Rahul Gupta

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Rahul Gupta
Rahul Gupta, ONDCP Director.jpg
Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Assumed office
November 5, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byRegina LaBelle (Acting)
Personal details
Born1970/1971 (age 50–51)
India
EducationDelhi University (MD)
University of Alabama, Birmingham (MPH)
London School of Business and Finance (MBA)

Rahul Gupta (born 1970 or 1971)[1] is an American physician from the state of West Virginia. He is the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the first physician to serve in the role.[2]

Early life[]

Gupta was born in India and raised in a suburb of Washington, D.C. His father is a diplomat.[3] Gupta earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University College of Medical Sciences of Delhi University. He earned a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He worked as an assistant professor of medicine at Meharry Medical College and at UAB.[4]

Medical career[]

Gupta ran the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department from 2009 to 2014.[5] He became the director of the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health in 2015, and focused on reducing overdose deaths from the opioid epidemic.[3] He left the role in 2018 to become the chief medical officer of the March of Dimes.[6]

Biden administration[]

Gupta was the lead member of the 2020 presidential transition of Joe Biden for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).[7] Biden nominated him to be director of the ONDCP on July 13, 2021.[8] His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 28,[9] and he was sworn into office on November 18.[10]

Upon taking office, Gupta noted that addressing, “the overdose epidemic that has claimed more than 100,000 lives between April 2020 and April 2021” would be his priority.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ Ehley, Brianna (May 2, 2018). "The Immigrant Doctor Who's Solving West Virginia's Opioids Crisis". Politico. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "Biden chooses Rahul Gupta as director of Office of National Drug Control Policy". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Ehley, Brianna. "The Immigrant Doctor Who's Solving West Virginia's Opioids Crisis". POLITICO Magazine.
  4. ^ Payne, Aaron (December 15, 2014). "Gupta ready for chief health officer role".
  5. ^ Staff, WSAZ News. "Former Kanawha-Charleston Health Dept. director, W.Va. Health Officer named to Biden transition team". www.wsaz.com.
  6. ^ McElhinny, Brad (September 18, 2018). "Gupta leaving state Bureau of Public Health". WV MetroNews. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  7. ^ LIEU, SARAH (November 11, 2020). "Dr. Rahul Gupta, former top W.Va. health official, part of presidential transition team". WCHS.
  8. ^ "Biden picks former West Virginia health official as drug czar". POLITICO.
  9. ^ "US Senate confirms Gupta as White House drug czar". October 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "West Virginia's Dr. Rahul Gupta is now the nation's Drug Czar". November 18, 2021.
  11. ^ "@DrGupta46". Twitter. November 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Political offices
Preceded by
Regina LaBelle
Acting
 Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
2021–present 		Incumbent
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