(The Hill) – All of this was painfully learned by our one memorable modern Surgeon General, Charles Everett Koop. The New York Times denounced him in an editorial headed “Dr. Unqualified;” a nimbler commentator christened him “Dr. Kook.” He had no public health experience and unpopular abortion views. As controversy raged in inverse proportion to the actual importance of the office (Bill Clinton managed one whole administration without appointing anybody), Koop was thinking through what could actually be accomplished from his modest but high-profile perch.

And he decided to be an influencer. (Read More)