President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer and health tech entrepreneur, as the next Surgeon General of the United States. This decision follows the withdrawal of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s nomination amid concerns over her credentials and ideological alignment with the administration.
Dr. Means, 37, is a Stanford-educated physician who co-founded Levels, a health technology company that promotes metabolic health through continuous glucose monitoring. She is closely associated with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and has been an active advocate for the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, which emphasizes holistic health approaches and critiques of the pharmaceutical and food industries .
After leaving her surgical residency, Dr. Means focused on functional medicine, advocating for treating the root causes of diseases rather than just symptoms. Her medical license in Oregon was placed on inactive status in January 2024, and she no longer provides direct medical care .
Dr. Means and her brother, Calley Means, a White House adviser, co-authored the book “Good Energy,” which discusses the connection between metabolism and overall health. The siblings have been prominent figures in the MAHA movement, promoting reforms such as banning certain chemicals in food, revising vaccination schedules, and removing fluoride from water supplies .
Critics have raised concerns about Dr. Means’ lack of traditional public health experience and her promotion of alternative health practices, including support for raw milk consumption, which the CDC warns against due to associated risks . Additionally, she has expressed skepticism about the role of aluminum in vaccines, a stance that contradicts established scientific consensus .
Supporters argue that Dr. Means’ nomination represents a necessary shift toward addressing chronic diseases through lifestyle and dietary changes. Her alignment with the MAHA agenda is seen as a move to challenge conventional health policies and promote individual health empowerment.
The Surgeon General serves as the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government and is responsible for providing the public with information on health issues . Dr. Means’ nomination will require Senate confirmation.
