Many say I am a lightening rod. Please know that they have been my thunder. I appear before you today at a time when our entire Nation is facing great challenges in public health. AIDS, violence, teenage pregnancy, a drug resistant strain of tuberculosis, low immunization rates all indicate we have not done a very good job at selling healthy lifestyles in this country. I believe the only way to heal our Nation is through prevention.
Prevention requires education.
If confirmed, I would make my utmost goal the education of our people, all our people, on how to stay healthy. I have some personal and professional understanding of these challenges that I would like to share with you. But before I do that, I would like to address some issues about me that have been raised. I am the oldest of eight children. I had never seen a physician prior to my first year at college.