Dr. Richard Carmona: Dropout to Surgeon Generalbr Commonwealth Club - The Commonwealth Club of Californiabr Prevention: The Key to Heading off a National Health-Care Crisis with former Surgeon General Richard Carmona, M.D.Carmona describes the current health crisis as preventable and reversible. He notes that chronic disease accounts for 7 in 10 deaths and 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care in the United States.As 17th U.S. surgeon general, Carmona worked to revise our nation's approach to health by emphasizing the importance of increasing prevention, eliminating health disparities and improving health literacy.Carmona's rise to being "doctor of the nation" is particularly remarkable because of his disadvantaged childhood. He was homeless at age 6 and a high-school dropout at 17.