The recent appointment of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat by President-elect Donald Trump to the position of Surgeon General called attention to a very sad incident from her childhood that has molded her life and career. When she was only 13 years old, Dr. Nesheiwat was involved in an awful accident that killed her father, Ziad “Ben” Nesheiwat. The incident, which occurred in February of 1990, has resurfaced as she steps into the national spotlight, raising discussions about her past and what it might mean for her future role.
The incident: A heartbreaking accident
The tragedy occurred in the family’s home in Umatilla, Florida, while young Janette was looking for scissors that were kept in a tacklebox placed over her father’s bed. Unbeknownst to her, this tacklebox also contained a loaded 380 caliber handgun. As she reached for the box, it fell over, releasing the firearm, which fell out and discharged, striking her father in the head as he slept.
Dr. Nesheiwat would later tell police she heard a loud bang, and saw the blood on her father’s ear. While immediately tumultuous and traumatic, investigators at the time labeled the event an unfortunate accident. Her father would eventually die the next day in an Orlando hospital, leaving an emotional scar on Janette and her family.
Impact on Dr. Nesheiwat’s life
The turning point in Janette’s life was the death of her father. According to her memoir, Beyond the Stethoscope, it was this tragedy that triggered in her mind the passion for medicine. She wrote, “When I was 13 years old, I helplessly watched my dear father dying from an accident as blood was spurting everywhere”. This terrible experience turned her desire to help others into a flame and finally made her a physician.
Dr. Nesheiwat’s mother, Hayat, was a pediatric nurse, and she played an instrumental role in shaping her career path. After the loss of her husband, Hayat took on additional shifts to support their family and instilled resilience and determination into her children. This strong familial bond and commitment to overcoming adversity became central themes in Janette’s life.
A distinguished medical career
Following this personal tragedy, Dr. Nesheiwat pursued an education in medicine with fervor: attending the University of South Florida and later graduating from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, she did her residency in family medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and started to practice as an urgent care physician.
She has held important positions such as medical director of CityMD clinics in New York and New Jersey, and she is also a medical contributor to Fox News during critical periods of health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This has made her an advocate for public health initiatives that have received attention and applause from all quarters.
Public scrutiny and future challenges
With confirmation hearings approaching for her nomination to be Surgeon General, the scrutiny of Dr. Nesheiwat’s past has intensified. Critics have raised questions about transparency in relation to how her father died and what that says about her fitness for this critical position. A question lingers over whether she will be able to advocate effectively for public health policy while carrying the emotional baggage of her past with her.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Nesheiwat’s story is one of resilience and determination. She has transformed personal tragedy into a driving force for positive change in healthcare. As she embarks on this new chapter in her career, it will be interesting to see how she will navigate the complexities of public service while honoring the memory of her father.
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