President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to serve as the next U.S. surgeon general, a selection rooted partially in her traumatic and transformational personal history.

Dr. Nesheiwat's medical career was deeply influenced by an incident at 13 when she accidentally killed her father, as the New York Post reports.

A Heartbreaking Accident in Umatilla

In February 1990, a young Janette Nesheiwat was searching for scissors in her family's Umatilla, Florida home. She accidentally knocked over a tacklebox which dislodged a .380 caliber handgun inside.

The firearm discharged, striking her father, Ziad "Ben" Nesheiwat, who was asleep.

Her father was tragically pronounced dead the following day at an Orlando hospital. The incident was investigated and ultimately declared an accidental shooting by the police.

The event left an indelible mark on Nesheiwat, shaping her future endeavors and career choices.

Inspiration from Tragedy

Following the accident, Nesheiwat channeled her grief into a determination to pursue medicine, a dream inspired by the tragic circumstances she encountered as a child.

Her journey is detailed in her 2017 memoir, Beyond the Stethoscope, in which she describes the trauma and its impact on her life.

"When I was 13 years old, I helplessly watched my dear father dying from an accident as blood was spurting everywhere. I couldn’t save his life. This was the start of my personal journey in life to become a physician," she wrote.

The loss of her father and the subsequent challenges deeply affected her, as she expressed in her memoir, "The trauma of that moment clung to me like a relentless shadow, unraveling the fabric of my young life and leaving me in a perpetual state of devastation."

Professional Achievements Highlighted

Dr. Nesheiwat's professional life has been notable. Prior to her nomination, she served as a medical director at CityMD and also contributed her expertise as a medical analyst on Fox News.

Her role during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially her front-line work in New York City, was specifically lauded by Donald Trump at the time of her nomination.

"Her expertise and leadership have been pivotal during some of the most challenging Healthcare crises of our time," Trump remarked.

"Dr. Nesheiwat will play a pivotal role in MAKING AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!," Trump further emphasized in his public statement.

Family Support and Personal Resilience

Dr. Nesheiwat was not the only member of her family who had pursued a significant career. Her siblings include a homeland security adviser, a model married to a rock band singer, and two lawyers.

Her mother, Hayat Nesheiwat, continued her work as a pediatric nurse even after her husband’s tragic death, serving as another source of inspiration for Janette.

Despite the public nature of her nomination, Dr. Nesheiwat has chosen not to comment on the recent report by the New York Times detailing her past and has not responded to requests for comment from other news outlets.

"I saw blood on my father’s ear," she had told the police immediately following the accident, a haunting memory that she shared in the early reports.