Is TV doctor good for what ails America?

When news slipped out that Dr. Sanjay Gupta might be the next surgeon general, the CNN reporter’s star shine seemed to sprinkle into every conversation.

But even as some medical professionals, politicians and members of the chattering class praised him, others began to raise the issue of his professional qualifications.

Gupta, 39, a neurosurgeon who works regularly at Grady Memorial Hospital and teaches at Emory University in addition to his TV doctor gig, has indicated he is interested in the government post.

Supporters point out that Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, is already an internationally respected communicator on health issues. They believe the surgeon general’s job is, first and foremost, to be a spokesman for good health; and they believe he’s highly qualified.

“Being a celebrity doesn’t necessarily make you unqualified. If anything, it can enhance the office,” said Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, a public health watchdog group in Washington.

But signs of opposition have emerged in the days since his prospective appointment became public. Some critics say he does not have the depth of experience or knowledge of the world of public health to carry the position.

A key Democratic House member, Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, is rallying opposition to Gupta, contending he lacks experience. He is urging Democrats to sign a letter to President-elect Barack Obama urging him not to nominate Gupta.

“It is not in the best interests of the nation to have someone like this who lacks the requisite experience needed to oversee the federal agency that provides crucial health care assistance to some of the poorest and most underserved communities in America,” Conyers wrote in the letter made public Thursday.

That raised the ire of those who know that Gupta works at Grady, the Atlanta safety net medical facility for poor people.

“He operates at Grady hospital every single week,” said Dr. Dan Barrow, chairman of the neurosurgery department at Emory.

Part of the difficulty in judging qualifications for surgeon general comes from a generally broad definition of the role. The office’s Web site defines the duties: “protect and advance the health of the nation through educating the public, advocating for effective disease prevention and … providing a highly recognized symbol of national commitment to protecting and improving the public’s health.”

The surgeon general’s position has been muted in recent years following some political controversy. The job has been filled by an interim appointment since Dr. Richard Carmona ended his term in 2006. Carmona later criticized the Bush administration for allegedly interfering with scientific findings that didn’t match its political agenda.

Among the most visible surgeon generals was C. Everett Koop, who, with his smart military uniform and grandfatherly beard, brought attention to AIDS and the dangers of smoking.

“I think a lot of people think wrongfully that the surgeon general is just a figurehead position that talks about public health issues, but it’s more than that,” said Dr. Val Jones, head of Better Health, an online medical education company. Her recent blog opposing a Gupta appointment has been widely circulated on the Internet.

Jones said the surgeon general oversees several thousand commissioned corps in the U.S. Public Health Service, a military branch that includes about 800 scientists and researchers at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stressing that the surgeon general must know about disaster preparedness, national safety and issues in a flu pandemic, Jones said Gupta may not have the background to properly advise the president or, when needed, to stand up against poor policy decisions.

If selected, Gupta would become a military officer. Carmona, the former surgeon general, said that could present challenges.

Gerard Farrell, executive director of the Commissioned Officers Association, said the president should ideally select a surgeon general from among those who served in the commissioned corps, which establishes their experience and credibility.

If Gupta is nominated, he will go through Senate confirmation hearings. U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said he would support a Gupta appointment and does not foresee much opposition in the Senate.

“He’s one of the best communicators on the subject of health I’ve ever seen,” Isakson said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article