Practice, Progress, and Promise of a state Surgeon General: The Michigan Experience

Due to the steady erosion of the Michigan public health infrastructure in the midst of growing public health challenges, the unprecedented post of Michigan Surgeon General (SG) was created by Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2003. The purpose of the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG)and the SG post was to revitalize the Michigan's public health efforts by having a physician leader whose charge would be: serve as the chief spokesperson/advocate for health promotion and disease prevention; work to rebuild and strengthen the public health infrastructure; participate in programmatic and policy development; cultivate strategic partnerships with stakeholders - supported by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and select legislators. The study aims to describe the impact of the post including the strategic and systematic release of various reports - Healthy Michigan 2010 and Prescription for a Healthier Michigan. These foundational reports led to the launch of programs such as Michigan Steps Up with over 30,000 online subscribers, and Generation With Promise, funded by a $5 million WK Kellogg Foundation grant and impacting over 16,000 school-aged children. The SG advocated for tobacco control/prevention, childhood lead poisoning, and unintended pregnancy prevention policies as well as interfaced with over 400 stakeholders. The SG presented to over 450 groups; businesses, schools, communities, healthcare organizations, faith-based organizations and the media. Supported by a highly-competent State health department, the SG could effectively revitalize a health promotion and disease prevention agenda, develop programs, support policies and engage key stakeholders as partners to drive Michigan's public health agenda.