M. Joycelyn Elders biography

Profile

In September 1993, Joycelyn Elders became U.S. surgeon general. In this role, she played an important role in President Clinton's early efforts to reorganize the health care system, and she urged the public to consider unorthodox solutions. Some of her suggestions concerning sex education in the public schools, however, caused great controversy, and in December 1994 Clinton asked her to resign.