By Nikhila Natarajan

New York, Dec 4 (IANS): Indian-American Vivek Murthy, the former US Surgeon General, is tipped for a big role in Joe Biden's health care team, as the President-elect readies to name consequential picks to will lead the next administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Murthy currently co-chairs the Biden-Harris Transition's Covid-19 task force.

Biden is expected to announce his choice for Health and Human Services Secretary next week and Murthy is reportedly in the running for this position as well being a top choice for his earlier role of Surgeon General, according to chatter filtering out from the Biden Transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.

Murthy served as the 19th Surgeon General of the United States, from December 15, 2014 to April 21, 2017.

Known for his soft-spoken demeanor, he is the author of the NYT bestseller "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World".

Murthy was asked to resign by President Donald Trump in 2017, although he was named to a four-year term by former President Barack Obama, starting 2014.

While serving as Surgeon General, Murthy fought the spread of Ebola and the Zika virus, among other public health challenges.

In his early years as an ER doctor, Murthy treated plenty of gunshot victims and has spoken out consistently against gun violence.

Egged on by an angry gun-rights lobby, Senate Republicans ganged up and put Murthy's nomination for Surgeon General in limbo for many months.

On Thursday, Biden also spoke with Anthony Fauci who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Biden told CNN he's making Fauci a chief medical adviser and a member of his Covid-19 advisory team.