Dr. Sanjay Gupta to Obama: ‘No thanks, I’ll pass’

CNN’s medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta withdrew his name from consideration as Surgeon General yesterday.

CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta withdrew Thursday from consideration to be the next surgeon general, with the network and Obama administration officials attributing his decision to professional and family reasons amid a campaign by some liberal interest groups to block his selection.

CNN reported that Gupta, a neurosurgeon, decided to withdraw so that he could continue to practice medicine, work as a journalist and spend more time with his family.

Administration officials cited the same reasons.

“Sanjay Gupta was under serious consideration for the job of surgeon general. He has removed himself from consideration to focus more on his medical career and his family,” said an Obama administration official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Dr. Gupta’s name is added to the growing list of potential candidates who have declined positions within the Obama administration.

In addition to his work on CNN, Dr. Gupta also maintains a private practice and performs surgery at Atlanta’s Grady hospital.