A Concerning Nomination: Dr. Casey Means and the Future of Public Health

The Facts:

Dr. Casey Means, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General, had her Senate confirmation hearing postponed because she went into labor. The Stanford-educated physician, who abandoned her surgical residency in 2018 citing disillusionment with traditional medicine, rose to prominence as a wellness influencer advocating alternative approaches to chronic disease. Means co-founded Levels, a health-tracking app, and has made hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting various health products including supplements, teas, and meal delivery services. An Associated Press investigation found she sometimes failed to disclose she could profit from these recommendations.

Means has no government experience and maintains an inactive medical license. Her confirmation would place her in charge of 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members with authority to issue public health advisories. She would be expected to promote Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, which includes removing additives from foods and increasing scrutiny of vaccines, pesticides, and prescription drugs. In ethics filings, Means committed to resigning from Levels and divesting stock options if confirmed, though she may continue receiving royalties from her book “Good Energy.”

This nomination follows the withdrawal of Trump’s previous Surgeon General pick, Janette Nesheiwat, who faced criticism from the president’s allies. The position of Surgeon General serves as the nation’s doctor and represents administration policy on critical health issues affecting all Americans.

Opinion:

This nomination represents a dangerous departure from the scientific rigor and evidence-based medicine that should define the Office of the Surgeon General. As someone deeply committed to democracy, freedom, and the integrity of our institutions, I view this appointment with profound concern. The Surgeon General must be a beacon of scientific truth, not a platform for alternative medicine agendas that could undermine public trust in our health institutions.

Means’ lack of government experience and inactive medical license raise serious questions about her qualifications for one of the nation’s most important public health roles. Her financial entanglements with wellness products and failure to disclose potential profits demonstrate a troubling pattern that conflicts with the transparency required of public servants. While entrepreneurship isn’t inherently problematic, the Surgeon General must be beyond reproach when it comes to financial conflicts and scientific integrity.

The alignment with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s agenda, which includes increased scrutiny of vaccines despite overwhelming scientific consensus on their safety and efficacy, is particularly alarming. Public health decisions must be based on evidence, not ideology or personal belief. The Surgeon General’s voice should unite Americans around proven health measures, not amplify debunked theories that could endanger public health.

While I respect Means’ personal journey and wish her well with her new child, the health of our nation cannot be entrusted to someone whose professional background suggests a fundamental rejection of established medical science. We must demand the highest standards for those who would protect the health of all Americans, and this nomination falls tragically short of meeting those essential criteria.