30 Facts About Antonia Novello

Antonia Coello Novello was born on August 23,1944 and is a Puerto Rican physician and public health administrator.

Antonia Novello was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as 14th Surgeon General of the United States from 1990 to 1993.

Antonia Novello served as Commissioner of Health for the State of New York from 1999 to 2006.

Antonia Novello has received numerous awards including more than fifty honorary degrees, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2000, and has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Antonia Novello, born on August 23,1944, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was the oldest of two children; she had a half-brother.

At birth, Antonia Novello was diagnosed with congenital megacolon, a condition that required Antonia Novello to spend two weeks every summer in the hospital.

Nevertheless, Antonia Novello managed to excel in her study to become a doctor.

Antonia Novello excelled in her education and graduated from high school at the age of 15.

Antonia Novello attended the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1965.

Antonia Novello went on to the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan where she received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1970.

Antonia Novello began a pediatric internship at University of Michigan Medical School.

Antonia Novello became the first woman to receive the "University of Michigan Pediatrics Department Intern of the Year" award.

Antonia Novello earned her Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 1982 and her Doctorate in Public Health from Johns Hopkins in 2000.

In 1976, Antonia Novello opened her own private practice in Springfield, Virginia, where she worked as a pediatrician.

In 1979, Antonia Novello joined the Public Health Service and received a commission in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Antonia Novello held various positions at NIH before being appointed to Assistant Surgeon General grade in the PHSCC and assignment as the deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in 1986.

Antonia Novello served as Coordinator for AIDS Research for NICHD from September 1987.

Antonia Novello made major contributions to the drafting and enactment of the Organ Transplantation Procurement Act of 1984 while assigned to the United States Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, working with the staff of committee chairman Orrin Hatch.

Antonia Novello was the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold the position.

Antonia Novello played an important role in launching the Healthy Children Ready to Learn Initiative.

Antonia Novello was actively involved in working with other organizations to promote immunization of children and childhood injury prevention efforts.

Antonia Novello spoke out often and forcefully about illegal underage drinking, and called upon the United States Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General to issue a series of reports on the subject.

Antonia Novello worked to discourage illegal tobacco use by young people, and repeatedly criticized the tobacco industry for appealing to the youth market through the use of cartoon characters such as Joe Camel.

Antonia Novello was controversial among abortion rights advocates due to her support of a policy prohibiting family planning program workers who received federal financing from discussing abortion with their patients.

Antonia Novello was assigned to the United Nations Children's Fund as Special Representative for Health and Nutrition from 1993 to 1996 reverting to her permanent two-star rank of rear admiral.

Antonia Novello retired from the Public Health Service and the PHSCC shortly after with the grade of vice admiral.

From 2008 to 2014, Antonia Novello was vice president of Women and Children Health and Policy Affairs at Disney Children's Hospital at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida.

On June 26,2009, in a plea deal with prosecutors, Antonia Novello pleaded guilty to one felony count of filing a false instrument involving a worker's duties.

Antonia Novello was sentenced to pay $22,500 in restitution, a $5,000 fine, and spend 250 hours doing community service at a medical clinic for uninsured patients.

Antonia Novello was the sister-in-law of Saturday Night Live alumnus Don Novello, creator of the character persona Father Guido Sarducci.