Satcher also laid the groundwork for an early detection system for food-borne illnesses and decreased the nation's response time for containing infectious diseases.

Broome says that Satcher stressed the importance of physical education and activity in order to help prevent disease.

As a solution to his concerns that America was more sedentary than ever before and that obesity was becoming a national epidemic, Satcher encouraged "individual behavior changes," and an environment conducive to physical activity.

Broome says that Satcher wanted to make sure sidewalks, stairways and other publicly built venues for physical activity were available for everyone to use.

According to Broome, fire drills were frequent at the CDC during Satcher's tenure there and the employees "used to joke that that was part of his 'physical campaign.'"

The Surgeon in General

In his speech at Harvard Medical School tomorrow, Satcher says he hopes to inspire students to take a global stance on medicine, tackle issues related to disease prevention and to promote equal opportunity for healthcare across the country.

Satcher will draw from his own memories of early medical experiences when speaking to Harvard's new doctors, in the same way that he has drawn from these experiences throughout his professional career.

Just as Dr. Jackson inspired Satcher to make adequate health care available to every American today, so Satcher can motivate graduates to tackle the medical priorities of tomorrow.