PHYSICIAN
Joycelyn Elders
1933 - Today

Joycelyn Elders
Minnie Joycelyn Elders (born Minnie Lee Jones; August 13, 1933) is an American pediatrician and public health administrator who served as Surgeon General of the United States from 1993 to 1994. A vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, she was the second woman, second person of color, and first African American to serve as Surgeon General. Elders is known for her frank discussion of her views on controversial issues such as drug legalization, masturbation, and distributing contraception in schools. She was forced to resign in December 1994 amidst controversy as a result of her views. Read more on Wikipedia
Her biography is available in 20 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 16 in 2024). Joycelyn Elders is the 697th most popular physician (up from 703rd in 2024), the 13,316th most popular biography from United States (up from 13,838th in 2019) and the 93rd most popular American Physician.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of Joycelyn Elders by language
Among PHYSICIANS
Among physicians, Joycelyn Elders ranks 697 out of 726. Before her are Ben Klassen, Louisa Garrett Anderson, William Hewson, Susan La Flesche Picotte, Elizabeth Kenny, and Samia al-Amoudi. After her are Rachel Levine, Maude Abbott, Steven M. Greer, Charles R. Drew, Flora Murray, and Caldwell Esselstyn.
Most Popular Physicians in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsBen Klassen
1918 - 1993
HPI: 49.59
Rank: 691
Louisa Garrett Anderson
1873 - 1943
HPI: 49.58
Rank: 692
William Hewson
1739 - 1774
HPI: 49.58
Rank: 693
Susan La Flesche Picotte
1865 - 1915
HPI: 49.37
Rank: 694
Elizabeth Kenny
1880 - 1952
HPI: 49.35
Rank: 695
Samia al-Amoudi
1957 - Present
HPI: 49.22
Rank: 696
Joycelyn Elders
1933 - Present
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 697
Rachel Levine
1957 - Present
HPI: 48.94
Rank: 698
Maude Abbott
1868 - 1940
HPI: 48.86
Rank: 699
Steven M. Greer
1955 - Present
HPI: 48.82
Rank: 700
Charles R. Drew
1904 - 1950
HPI: 48.80
Rank: 701
Flora Murray
1869 - 1923
HPI: 48.71
Rank: 702
Caldwell Esselstyn
1933 - Present
HPI: 48.64
Rank: 703
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1933, Joycelyn Elders ranks 530. Before her are Nimmi, Lori Nelson, Pat Crowley, Milt Campbell, Heather Armitage, and Richard Libertini. After her are Adolph Caesar, Caldwell Esselstyn, William G. Dever, Floyd Cramer, Madhur Jaffrey, and John Cannon.
Others Born in 1933
Go to all RankingsNimmi
ACTOR
1933 - 2020
HPI: 49.65
Rank: 524
Lori Nelson
ACTOR
1933 - 2020
HPI: 49.58
Rank: 525
Pat Crowley
ACTOR
1933 - 2025
HPI: 49.57
Rank: 526
Milt Campbell
ATHLETE
1933 - 2012
HPI: 49.40
Rank: 527
Heather Armitage
ATHLETE
1933 - Present
HPI: 49.35
Rank: 528
Richard Libertini
ACTOR
1933 - 2016
HPI: 49.27
Rank: 529
Joycelyn Elders
PHYSICIAN
1933 - Present
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 530
Adolph Caesar
ACTOR
1933 - 1986
HPI: 48.69
Rank: 531
Caldwell Esselstyn
PHYSICIAN
1933 - Present
HPI: 48.64
Rank: 532
William G. Dever
ARCHAEOLOGIST
1933 - Present
HPI: 48.62
Rank: 533
Floyd Cramer
MUSICIAN
1933 - 1997
HPI: 48.41
Rank: 534
Madhur Jaffrey
ACTOR
1933 - Present
HPI: 48.34
Rank: 535
John Cannon
RACING DRIVER
1933 - 1999
HPI: 48.14
Rank: 536
In United States
Among people born in United States, Joycelyn Elders ranks 13,320 out of 20,380. Before her are Ryan Garcia (1998), Michelle Thomas (1968), Merritt Giffin (1887), Olympia Snowe (1947), Alison Krauss (1971), and Horatio Greenough (1805). After her are Byron K. Lichtenberg (1948), Jayma Mays (1979), Shane Mosley (1971), Audrey Patterson (1926), Barrett Strong (1941), and Justin Cronin (1962).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsRyan Garcia
BOXER
1998 - Present
HPI: 49.03
Rank: 13,314
Michelle Thomas
ACTOR
1968 - 1998
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 13,315
Merritt Giffin
ATHLETE
1887 - 1911
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 13,316
Olympia Snowe
POLITICIAN
1947 - Present
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 13,317
Alison Krauss
MUSICIAN
1971 - Present
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 13,318
Horatio Greenough
SCULPTOR
1805 - 1852
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 13,319
Joycelyn Elders
PHYSICIAN
1933 - Present
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 13,320
Byron K. Lichtenberg
ASTRONAUT
1948 - Present
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 13,321
Jayma Mays
ACTOR
1979 - Present
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 13,322
Shane Mosley
BOXER
1971 - Present
HPI: 49.01
Rank: 13,323
Audrey Patterson
POLITICIAN
1926 - 1996
HPI: 49.01
Rank: 13,324
Barrett Strong
SINGER
1941 - 2023
HPI: 49.01
Rank: 13,325
Justin Cronin
WRITER
1962 - Present
HPI: 49.01
Rank: 13,326
Among PHYSICIANS In United States
Among physicians born in United States, Joycelyn Elders ranks 93. Before her are Fred Ramsdell (1960), Sara Josephine Baker (1873), Samuel George Morton (1799), Samuel Gridley Howe (1801), Bert Vogelstein (1949), and Susan La Flesche Picotte (1865). After her are Rachel Levine (1957), Steven M. Greer (1955), Charles R. Drew (1904), Caldwell Esselstyn (1933), David Shulkin (1959), and Donald Henderson (1928).
Fred Ramsdell
1960 - Present
HPI: 50.80
Rank: 87
Sara Josephine Baker
1873 - 1945
HPI: 50.62
Rank: 88
Samuel George Morton
1799 - 1851
HPI: 50.53
Rank: 89
Samuel Gridley Howe
1801 - 1876
HPI: 50.50
Rank: 90
Bert Vogelstein
1949 - Present
HPI: 50.47
Rank: 91
Susan La Flesche Picotte
1865 - 1915
HPI: 49.37
Rank: 92
Joycelyn Elders
1933 - Present
HPI: 49.02
Rank: 93
Rachel Levine
1957 - Present
HPI: 48.94
Rank: 94
Steven M. Greer
1955 - Present
HPI: 48.82
Rank: 95
Charles R. Drew
1904 - 1950
HPI: 48.80
Rank: 96
Caldwell Esselstyn
1933 - Present
HPI: 48.64
Rank: 97
David Shulkin
1959 - Present
HPI: 46.96
Rank: 98
Donald Henderson
1928 - 2016
HPI: 46.52
Rank: 99










































