UPDATED: November 18, 2013, at 9:02 p.m.

President Obama announced Thursday that he intends to nominate Vivek H. Murthy ’98, a physician and instructor at Harvard Medical School, as Surgeon General of the United States.

The co-founder of Doctors for America, a national movement of more than 16,000 physicians and medical students working to improve the health of the nation, Murthy has not yet secured the position. Before assuming the new role, he must first face a Senate confirmation hearing that has not yet been scheduled.

If successful, Murthy will become the youngest surgeon general in U.S. history and will replace acting Surgeon General Boris D. Lushniak, an alumnus of the Harvard School of Public Health.

“I thought it was a great decision made by the President,” said Allen Kachalia, an associate professor at Harvard School of Public Health and long-time friend. “My initial reaction was that I was very happy for Dr. Murthy because he has been a longstanding advocate for better health care. And I was happy for the country because we were getting another great leader.”

Given the current political climate, however, it is uncertain whether or not Murthy will secure the position.

The four-year post has little formal power but carries substantial influence on key issues in public health, especially in light of the recent rollout of the healthcare exchanges. A strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act, Murthy would aid in its implementation and evaluation over the coming years.