Dr. Regina Benjamin

While the position does require senate confirmation, Dr. Benjamin has accomplished such impressive feats as being the first person under the age of 40 to sit on the board of trustees of the American Medical Association, served as the associate dean for rural health at the University of South Alabama’s College of Medicine and as president of the State of Alabama Medical Association.

Dr. Benjamin is truly an amazing woman – having devoted most of her medical career to treating those who could not afford to receive it any other way. Though her office was destroyed several times by hurricanes and a fire, she rebuilt every time, continuing to offer care to Bayou La Batre, Alabama’s 2,500 residents.

Inspired by the many preventable illnesses her family suffered through, Dr. Benjamin perservered in treating everyone who needed it.

I commend Obama on this choice – not only is she a woman of color, an important perspective, but she seems like a really inspiring person.