Surgeon General's Medallion
The Surgeon General’s Medal is the third highest award of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The medal is awarded in the name of the United States Surgeon General for actions of exceptional achievement to the cause of public health and medicine. It is awarded by the the Surgeon General of the United States.
The exact award criteria for the Surgeon General’s Medal are open to the interpretation of the sitting U.S. Surgeon general. Typically, the Surgeon General’s Medal is presented for such actions as medical breakthroughs in public medicine, disease prevention and control, or exceptional service in a senior position of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Due to the prestige of the Surgeon General’s Medal, the award is authorized for wear on active duty uniforms of the United States armed forces.