James W . Holsinger James Wilson Holsinger , Jr . , ( born May 11 , 1939 in Kansas City , Kansas ) is an American physician . A former major general in the U . S . Army Reserve ( 1962 to 1993 ) , he has worked primarily in public health for over thirty years . He served as the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health from 1990 to 1993 , during the administrations of George H . W . Bush and Bill Clinton . From 1994 to 2003 , Holsinger was the Chancellor of the University of Kentucky ' s Chandler Medical Center . From 2003 to 2005 he served as Kentucky ' s Secretary of Health and Family Services . On May 24 , 2007 , President George W . Bush nominated Holsinger to become the Surgeon General of the United States . Holsinger ' s nomination became controversial and was never voted on by the Senate due to , according to his critics , anti - gay bias in his work in the United Methodist Church where he voted to expel a lesbian pastor and for a 1991 report where he characterized gay sex as unnatural and unhealthy . In January 2009 , instead , Bush appointed Holsinger to fill a vacant unpaid position on the President ' s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to expire May 2010 . Holsinger obtained his medical degree in 1964 and a Ph . D . in anatomy in 1968 , both from Duke University . , he is a professor at the University of Kentucky . Holsinger is a leader in the United Methodist Church , serving as treasurer of the World Methodist Council and was previously President of the Judicial Council . Early life and education . Holsinger was born in Kansas City , Kansas to James W . Holsinger , Sr . ( 1906 – 1994 ) , an Army brigadier general , and Ruth Reitz Holsinger ( b . 1909 ) . Holsinger graduated from Duke University with a M . D . in 1964 and a Ph . D . in anatomy in 1968 . He holds a degree from the University of Kentucky in human studies . Additionally , he holds Master ' s Degrees in hospital financial management from the University of South Carolina , as well as biblical studies from the Asbury Theological Seminary . He served as a surgical resident at Duke University Medical Center and Shands Teaching Hospital where he was also a fellow in Cardiology . Holsinger has published four medical books and sixty - one peer - reviewed papers . Government career . Department of Veterans Affairs . Holsinger served for twenty - six years in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA ) from 1969 to 1994 . He served at five different hospitals , rising to become a Medical Center Director . In 1990 , President George H . W . Bush appointed Holsinger as Chief Medical Director of the VA ( title changed to Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health in 1992 ) . He implemented the joint VA and Department of Defense Contingency Hospital System , which could provide 25 , 000 beds within seventy - two hours for soldiers fighting in Kuwait during the first Iraq War . He oversaw the nation ' s largest health care system , which served one million in - patients and twenty million out - patient visits per year . Holsinger also developed health care policy for twenty - six million veterans . When Holsinger assumed the post of Chief Medical Director , the VA was criticized for the quality of the care it provided . In 1991 , Holsinger acknowledged that inadequate care had caused the deaths of six patients at its North Chicago hospital . He commissioned a team to review the quality of care , and based on its findings suspended surgical care at the facility . Later , testimony before a Congressional subcommittee reported problems at more than thirty other veterans ' hospitals . Holsinger responded , " Our patients are older , sicker and more complex than the average patient . " In 1993 , he moved to Kentucky to become the Director of the VA Medical Center . He remained a consultant in cardiology for the hospital until 2003 . Holsinger was awarded the Surgeon General ' s Medal by Surgeon General Antonia Novello . United States Army Reserve . Holsinger served for over thirty - one years in the United States Army Reserve . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal , the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal three times . He was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and promoted to major general in medical logistics working at the Pentagon under General Colin Powell . Holsinger retired from the United States Army Reserve in 1993 . Academic career . University of Kentucky administration . From 1994 to 2003 , Holsinger served as Chancellor of the University of Kentucky Medical Center with responsibility for five health colleges , four graduate centers , two hospitals and numerous clinics in Kentucky . Under Holsinger ' s leadership , the university built the Gill Heart Institute and two research buildings , and Holsinger laid the groundwork for the expansion the hospital has undergone since he left . Holsinger helped establish the Women ' s Health Center and the College of Public Health . In 2004 , Holsinger was named a Master in the American College of Physicians . In the late 1990s , Holsinger led an international team to address the AIDS epidemic in sub - Saharan Africa . Working with Africa University in Zimbabwe , the team created a School of Health Sciences with nursing and public health programs to educate young people to deal with the AIDS crisis . Holsinger helped the university obtain a USAID grant to build the facility , which houses one of the few AIDS laboratories in southern Africa . In 2007 , the program is preparing to field - test an HIV vaccine . University of Kentucky faculty . After spending two years in Kentucky state government , he returned to the University of Kentucky as a professor for the graduate program in Public Health . In 2011 , Holsinger was inducted into University of Kentucky College of Public Health Hall of Fame for his service and dedication . Political career . Kentucky state government . Holsinger served as Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for Kentucky under Governor Ernie Fletcher . He was responsible for the management of the state ’ s health and social services programs , including the five billion dollar Kentucky Medicaid program . Holsinger also led the social services response to the 6 , 000 evacuees of Hurricane Katrina who relocated to Kentucky . While serving as Secretary , Holsinger published a paper on physician professionalism stating that the autonomous practice of medicine contributes to physician dissatisfaction because of the prevalence of third - party payers and liability concerns . He recommended a new professional structure based on teamwork between physicians and " fair access to health care for all Americans . " The " Associated Press " said Holsinger was a financial supporter of the Republican Party . According to " The Courier - Journal " , he contributed $ 23 , 000 over ten years to the party and its candidates , including President George W . Bush . Religious life . Good Samaritan Foundation . While Holsinger served as Chairman of the board of the Good Samaritan Foundation , a philanthropic health care organization , the United Methodist Church of Kentucky sued the foundation over control of $ 20 million in assets . Holsinger said the church was " only interested in the foundation ' s money , not its cause . " In October , 2007 , the case was decided in the church ' s favor . Asbury Theological Seminary . In November , 2007 , the Asbury Theological Seminary board of trustees attempted to remove Holsinger from its board for a possible conflict of interest because he was also a board member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a division of which was investigating the accreditation status of the seminary . According to Holsinger , he subsequently resigned because he believed the board was asking him to be less than truthful with regulatory agencies . Nomination for Surgeon General . Confirmation process . On May 24 , 2007 , Holsinger was nominated by George W . Bush to become the 18th Surgeon General of the United States . The Committee on Health , Education , Labor , and Pensions ( HELP ) held the confirmation hearing on July 12 , 2007 . Holsinger was supported by the American College of Physicians and former Surgeons General C . Everett Koop and Joycelyn Elders . He was opposed by several gay and lesbian organizations and the American Public Health Association . In October 2007 , Scripps Howard News Service reported that the nomination was in trouble though he retained the support of several Republicans and the White House . The Senate committee was waiting for Holsinger to answer follow - up questions from the July confirmation hearing . On November 16 , 2007 , " The Politico " and the " Los Angeles Times " reported that due to rumors that Holsinger would be recess appointed , Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would convene the chamber several times during the two - week Thanksgiving break , effectively avoiding adjourning the Senate and preventing any recess appointment . The same tactic was used for the 2007 holiday break . Given the Democratic resistance coupled with Holsinger ' s lack of response to the committee ' s questions after more than ten months , in June 2008 , thirteen months after his nomination , Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning , a Holsinger supporter , suggested the nomination was dead which the White House and fellow Kentucky Senator and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell denied . The political scientist Norman Ornstein said , " It ' s extremely unusual for somebody not to answer questions . It ' s a big fat ' dis ' of the committee and of the Senate . Even if you know or believe you are not likely to be confirmed , the idea that you wouldn ' t sort of do what the committee has asked is still kind of mind - boggling . " The committee ' s Republican ranking member said Holsinger ' s lack of response was " not helpful " while the editorial board of Kentucky ' s Courier - Journal characterized it as " disrespectful " and " baffling " . The nomination was never voted on by the Senate and afterwards , in January 2009 , Bush appointed him to fill a vacant unpaid position on the President ' s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to expire May 2010 . Nomination controversy . Following the nomination , Holsinger ' s views on homosexuality came under scrutiny , and several Democratic senators expressed concern or opposition to the nomination . In addition , individuals released statements supporting or opposing the nomination . Kevin Naff , editor of the LGBT newspaper , the " Washington Blade " , charged that Holsinger has a " long record of anti - gay bias . " Paul Weyrich , the conservative commentator , said opposition to Holsinger ' s nomination amounted to an assault on religious freedom . Still others asserted that Holsinger is not hostile to homosexuals citing his support for a session on lesbian health issues at a health conference and the support of a former colleague who is a lesbian . The critics were largely concerned with a 1991 white paper he wrote titled " Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality " for a committee in the United Methodist Church reviewing its position that homosexuality violates Christian teaching . According to Jake Tapper of ABC News , the paper " purported " to discuss homosexuality from a medical standpoint . But the Rev . J . Philip Wogaman , the main writer for the committee , said Holsinger imposed his views of homosexuality in the report . According to Wogaman , Holsinger resigned after he anticipated that the committee was preparing to support the moral dignity of non - promiscuous homosexuality . The church never adopted the committee ' s recommendations but continues to struggle with the issue . Supporters of Holsinger ' s nomination defended the paper as a review of the relevant medical literature at that time . Critics said the paper reflected a pre - 1970s view of human sexuality , and that it had a political agenda and was not a scientific paper . At his confirmation hearing , Holsinger said the paper did not represent his current views and was not “ an example of my scientific work . ” Critics have also expressed concerns about Holsinger ' s leadership of The United Methodist Church ’ s Judicial Council , the highest court of the Church . In 2005 , the court defrocked Irene Elizabeth Stroud , an openly lesbian minister , and in a separate case reinstated a pastor who had been suspended for refusing to allow a gay man to join his congregation . However , a Judicial Council member said that the decisions should not be read as Holsinger ' s personal views because the council does not have the power to establish church law and lacked the discretion to rule otherwise . But , as the " New York Times " noted , " some council members opposed his views , and the bishops later rejected one decision . " On October 24 , 2007 , Holsinger announced he would not participate in the fall Judicial Council meeting set to decide on a case involving the appointment of a transgender clergy member , which upheld the appointment . Holsinger completed his 8 year term as a Judicial Council member and his 4 year term as its president in May 2008 . Finally , gay rights groups have expressed concerns that the church to which Holsinger belongs , Hope Springs United Methodist Church , had a program that tries to " cure " gays . However , the church ' s pastor denied this . Supporters have pointed out that Holsinger faced down state legislators who , objecting to a session on lesbian health issues at a 2002 women ' s health conference , threatened to withhold funds . A former co - worker who is lesbian wrote that although a " liberal Democrat " , she strongly supported Holsinger as a leader with integrity . Public health stances . Smoking . Holsinger has been a strong advocate for tobacco restrictions , implementing smoking bans in the entire VA hospital system and pushing to increase the excise tax on cigarettes from 3 cents to 75 cents ( ultimately raised to 30 cents ) in a tobacco - growing state . At his confirmation hearing , Holsinger said one of his top three priorities is “ making America a tobacco - free nation ” . Childhood obesity . Holsinger has consistently aired concerns about childhood obesity , pushing for a limit on junk food in schools , lobbying and educating for the promotion of exercise and improvements of school nutrition . He included this as one of his highest priorities at his confirmation hearing . He said he supported banning mass media advertising of junk food geared to children . Readiness of Public Health Service Commissioned Corps . During his confirmation hearings , Holsinger said that if confirmed he would focus on improving the ability of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to respond rapidly to emergencies . Embryonic stem - cell research . In 2002 , Holsinger testified at a Kentucky legislative hearing discussing stem cell research . The Christian right characterized his testimony as supporting a " loosening [ of ] regulations " . However , the White House said that Holsinger ' s concerns only involved the severity of the penalties . In 2005 , he argued against a Kentucky anti - cloning bill , warning it could restrict future research . Holsinger testified that his father died of Parkinson ' s disease which is under investigation for gene therapy . During the HELP hearing , Holsinger said he supported President Bush ’ s stem cell policy , which restricts federal funding to already existing embryonic cell lines while providing funds for adult and animal stem cell research . Sex education . Holsinger said that abstinence education is one way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted teen pregnancy but also supported educating teenagers about condom use . Morning after pill . Holsinger said he did not support restricting the availability of an emergency contraceptive known as the morning - after pill , or Plan B . Health insurance industry . During the HELP hearing , Holsinger stated that he would seek ways to help the uninsured . " I think we need to have every American covered for health care . " He offered no opinion on how to achieve this goal . He said that he supported banning drug companies from advertising on television . Independence of the office of Surgeon General . Two days before the HELP confirmation hearing , former Surgeon General Richard Carmona went public with claims that the Bush Administration censored his speeches and buried his scientific reports . When asked about this at the hearing , Holsinger said , “ If I were faced with a situation that I felt I could not in good conscience do , I think I have a clear response to that . I would resign . ”