The former Surgeon General was Dr. C. Everett Koop, who served from 1982 to 1989. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and was the first Surgeon General to hold a cabinet-level position. During his tenure, he focused on public health issues such as AIDS, smoking, and drug abuse. He also worked with the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote healthy lifestyles. He was an advocate for the elderly, working to improve access to health care and to reduce the stigma associated with aging.