Surgeon General's Medallion

The Surgeon General’s Medallion is the third highest award of the Public Health Service and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The medal is awarded in the name of the United States Surgeon General for actions of exceptional achievement to the cause of public health and medicine. It is awarded by the Surgeon General of the United States.

The exact award criteria for the Surgeon General’s Medal are open to the interpretation of the sitting U.S. Surgeon general. Typically, the Surgeon General’s Medal is presented for such actions as medical breakthroughs in public medicine, disease prevention and control, or exceptional service in a senior position of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Due to the prestige of the Surgeon General’s Medallion, the award is authorized for wear on active duty uniforms of the United States armed forces. When worn on the uniform of a member of the Public Health Service, the ribbon is worn after the Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal and before the Department of Commerce Silver Medal, the Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. Recipients of the Surgeon General's Medallion include RADM Jerrold Michael who was also the youngest person to become an admiral in the PHS at the age of 33.