MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Many high positions in society are held by respectable, responsible adults. However, not all positions are given to those who have a passion for other people's lives. The position of surgeon general is a prestigious title held only by fifty-four individuals; one for each state, one for the Navy, Army and Air Force and one for the United States.
Navy Vice Adm. Donald Arthur currently holds the title of the 35th navy surgeon general and chief of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. As the U.S. Navy surgeon general, it is Vice Adm. Arthur's responsibility to ensure that proper health care is provided for Marines and sailors all over the world.
Vice Adm. Arthur admitted to not knowing when he established his passion for the medical field, but always knew it was what he wanted to do in life.
The surgeon general, who visited the Naval Hospital Beaufort as a guest speaker during a change of command ceremony June 16, was nominated by President George W. Bush in August 2004 to hold the unique position.
The Northampton, Mass., native joined the Navy in 1974 and attained his doctor of medicine degree from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. After a surgical internship, he completed navy training in flight surgery and undersea medicine.
"I had always wanted to be a physician," Vice Adm. Arthur said. "It was something I have just always been fascinated about."
He completed his residency in emergency medicine and served as head of Emergency Medicine at Naval Hospital San Diego.
Prior to his current assignment, he held the positions of deputy Navy surgeon general, vice chief of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, chief of the Navy Medical Corps and commander of Bethesda Medical Hospital in Maryland-National Naval Medical Center.
"I saw a lot of Marines come back from Iraq," he remembered.
Before his assignment at Bethesda, Vice Adm. Arthur deployed to Southwest Asia with the Marine Corps' 2nd Medical Battalion during Operations Desert Shield/Storm, where he served as the director of medical programs for the U.S. Marine Corps at Headquarters Marine Corps Washington.
"That was the most rewarding experience," he said. "Serving with General [Charles] Krulak and actually supporting Marines was the best thing I had ever done."
He then served as deputy commander of Naval Medical Center, San Diego, followed by a tour as commanding officer of Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, N.C. In 1998, Vice Adm. Arthur returned to Washington to serve as assistant chief for Health Care Operations, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
He was also the 2002 recipient of the American College of Healthcare Executives' Federal Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award and 2002 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. Outstanding Federal Healthcare Executive Award.
Vice Adm. Arthur has been awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, four Legions of Merit, three Meritorious ServiceMedals, three Navy Commendation Medals and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in addition to unit, service, and campaign awards.
"You won't find anyone who cares as much as he does," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Brian Young, surgeon general's flag rider, who has worked with the admiral for three years. "People do come first to him, and he never loses sight of the mission."