Antonia Novello

Antonia Coello Novello (born August 23, 1944) is a Puerto Rican physician and public health administrator. She 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. Novello was the first woman and first Hispanic person to serve as Surgeon General. Novello also served as Commissioner of Health for the State of New York from 1999 to 2006. 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. Her memoir, Duty Calls: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service, was published in English and in Spanish in 2024.

Early life

Antonia Coello was born on August 23, 1944, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, to Antonio Coello, who passed away when she was young, and Ana Delia Flores Coello, who worked as a school teacher and principal. Her mother emphasized the importance of education, hard work, and respect and care for others, all lessons that Novello took to heart. She was the older of two children; she also had a half-brother. After her divorce, her mother, Ana Delia Flores, remarried. Novello did not know her father. At birth, Novello was diagnosed with congenital megacolon, a condition that required Novello to spend two weeks every summer in the hospital. Although Novello was told at eight years old that she should have surgery to correct her problem, it would take another ten years before such an operation would happen. Nevertheless, Novello managed to excel in her study to become a doctor. Her experience with that disease left such an impact on her that she vowed to become a doctor so that "no other person is going to wait 18 years for surgery."

Education

At an early age, Novello's mother, a school teacher and later high school principal, stressed the importance of an education. Novello excelled in her education and graduated from high school at the age of 15. She attended the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1965. She went on to the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan

Public Health Service

In 1979, Novello joined the Public Health Service and received a commission in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). Her first assignment was as a project officer at the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). From 1976, she also held a clinical appointment in pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine. During her years at NIH, Novello worked on an MPH degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, receiving the degree in 1982.

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 (NICHD) in 1986. She also served as Coordinator for AIDS Research for NICHD from September 1987.

Later years

After leaving the position of Surgeon General, Novello remained in the regular corps of the Public Health Service. She was assigned to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as Special Representative for Health and Nutrition from 1993 to 1996 reverting to her permanent two-star rank of rear admiral. In 1996, she became visiting professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. She retired from the Public Health Service and the PHSCC shortly after with the grade of vice admiral.

In 1999, Governor of New York George Pataki appointed Novello as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health. She served until 2006.

From 2008 to 2014, 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, Novello pleaded guilty to one felony count of filing a false instrument involving a worker's duties. Her guilty plea was accepted by the court on August 13, 2009. She 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. Outside the court immediately after the sentencing, her lawyer called the crime an "administrative processing offense – nothing else." On March 31, 2022, by order of the Albany County Court, Judge Roger D. McDonough, the records were sealed.

As of December 31, 2014, Novello retired from her position as an executive director of public health policy at Florida Hospital - Orlando.

Awards

Selected awards and honors include:

60px  Public Health Service Commendation Medal, 1983
60px  Public Health Service Citation Medal, 1984
60px  Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon, 1987
60px  Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal, 1988
60px  Public Health Service Unit Commendation, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994
60px  Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal, 1989
60px  Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation, 1989
60px  Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal, 1990
60px  Public Health Service National Emergency Preparedness Award, 1990
60px  Public Health Service Foreign Duty Award, 1990
60px  United States Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, 1992
60px  Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal, 1992
60px  Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service, 2018
60px  Commissioned Officers Association Ribbon
border|60px  Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Ribbon
60px  Environmental Protection Agency Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, 1993
60px  Reserve Officers Association Ribbon
60px  Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, 1993
60px  Order of Military Medical Merit
60px Puerto Rico Merit Cross 2023
100px Surgeon General Badge
100px Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services Badge

1988, 1992, American Men and Women of Science
1990, Life Achievement Award, the National Puerto Rican Coalition
1990, Lillian D. Wald Award
1991, Living Legacy Award, Women's International Center
1991, Medical Achievement Award, American Liver Foundation
1991, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Medal
1991, Simon Bolivar, National Award Recipient
1991, The Elizabeth Blackwell Medal, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
1992, The Washington Times Freedom Award
1992, Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, National Catholic Education Association
1992, Order of Military Medical Merit, US Army
1993, La Leche League International Award of Recognition
1993 Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, Ellis Island
1993, American Medical Association, Nathan David Award
1993, Department of Defense, Legion of Merit Medal, United States Army
1993, Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1994, Induction, National Women's Hall of Fame.
1995, Ronald McDonald Children's Charities Award of Excellence
1995, Veterans of Foreign Wars, James E. Van Zandt Citizenship Award
1996, Miami Children's Hospital International Pediatric Hall of Fame
1996, Hispanic Hero Award, U.S. Hispanic Leadership Conference
1999, Hispanic Heritage Foundation - Leadership Award
2000, elected to the National Academy of Medicine
2000, YWCA Racial Justice Award
2001, American Cancer Society Humanitarian Award
2002, University Medal of Honor, State University of New York at Stony Brook
2002, American Medical Women's Association, International Women in Medicine Hall of Fame
2002, Smithsonian Institution, The James Smithson Bicentennial Medal
2002, The National Medical Fellowships Lifetime Achievement Award
2003, The Distinguished Service to the Nation's Public Health Award
2003, Homeland Security Award, National Foundation for Women Legislators
2005, National Governor's Association, Distinguished Service to State Government Award
2006, Women of the Américas Award, Unión de Mujeres de Las Américas
2008, Legacy Award for Sciences, Smithsonian Institution Latino Center
2011, El Quixote Award for Lifetime Achievement
2017, Government of Puerto Rico Recognition Award for Services Rendered During Hurricane Maria
2018, Jones Act Centennial Medal of U.S. Citizenship, Government of Puerto Rico
2018, Dolores C. Huerta Woman of Courage Medallion, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
2018, Impact Leader for Advocacy, Change Maker Impact Awards, United Way
2018, Special Recognition Award, Teachers Association of Puerto Rico
2019, Meritorious Public Service Medal for Exceptional Service during the Recovery Operations in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria, U.S. Army
2020, USA Today, 100 Women of the Century
2020, Lifetime Achievement Award, Latina Style Magazine
2021, Premio a la Excelencia del Servicio al Projimo, Sister Isolina Ferré Award
2023, Puerto Rico National Guard, Merit Cross Medal
2025, Induction, Puerto Rico Hall of Fame of Medicine

Novello has been awarded more than 50 honorary doctorates.

Personal life

Novello was married to former US Navy flight surgeon and psychiatrist, Joseph R. Novello. She was the sister-in-law of Saturday Night Live alumnus Don Novello, creator of the character persona Father Guido Sarducci.