Sanjay Gupta, assistant professor of neurosurgery for the School of Medicine, was offered the position of U.S. surgeon general by President Obama this month.

Gupta performs neurosurgery at the Emory University Hospital and is the associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Hospital. He is also CNN’s chief medical correspondent.

Fred Sanfilippo, executive vice president for health affairs at Emory, issued a press statement supporting Gupta’s nomination.

“He has the character, training, intelligence and communications skills needed to help the United States improve its health and health care delivery systems in the next Administration,” Sanfilippo said in the statement.

The surgeon general is the head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

The University declined to comment on how this position would affect Gupta’s relationship with Emory and the hospitals.

Gupta, 39, hosts a show “House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta” on CNN. He also writes medical columns for TIME Magazine, and his book Chasing Life was a national bestseller.

Students showed mixed views on Gupta and his nomination, some relating to his popularity and lack of experience.

“I think it’s good that he’s used to being in front of the television, but he doesn’t come from a public health background,” said College senior Dan Dicker, who is pursuing a career in public health.

College sophomore and Emory emergency medical technician Alex Daoud said that average citizens today know little about the surgeon general, but that that will change with Gupta.

“You’ve got someone who has a degree of public identity already and will bring some form of announcement to health issues,” Daoud said.

— Contact Christina White.