Trump selects wellness advocate Casey Means, a close associate of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, as his nominee for the surgeon general post.

In a Twitter post yesterday, President Trump announced his latest nominee for Surgeon General – Dr. Casey Means, a wellness guru with strong ties to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

This unexpected pick comes after withdrew his initial nomination for Janette Nesheiwat, a medical expert on Fox News.

In his Twitter post, Trump expressed his confidence in Means, stating, "Her academic accomplishments and life's work are nothing short of extraordinary. Dr. Casey Means could be one of the best Surgeon Generals in US history."

Means, who was an advisor on RFK Jr's 2024 presidential campaign, currently serves as an advisor to the White House. She frequently appears on TV and podcasts, defending the administration's health and nutrition policies.

She dropped out of her surgical residency program in 2018, claiming dissatisfaction with traditional medicine. Since then, she has founded a health tech startup, Levels, and has grown her influence as a wellness influencer. She uses her social media platforms to peddle various dietary supplements and products, claiming they offer health benefits.

Critics question Means' qualifications for the role, as she lacks government experience. Her views on health and nutrition, while popular with some, are controversial. For instance, she has linked changes in diet and lifestyle to a host of conditions, such as infertility, Alzheimer's, depression, and erectile dysfunction. Her stance on such issues clashes with those of many health experts.

Notably, members of the administration, including RFK Jr, have opposed measures like mandatory vaccinations and the use of fluoride in drinking water. These practices, backed by scientists and health officials, are widely recognized as successful public health measures.

Despite this, Trump's choice of Means reflects a broader trend within the administration. Embracing non-traditional voices, the administration has often attacked established authorities, tapping into widespread mistrust of medical and healthcare industries.

[Background]- Education: Dr. Casey Means graduated with honors from Stanford University, earning both her BA and MD. She served as class president while at Stanford and later joined the faculty before pursuing further training in Head and Neck Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University.- Career Path: Means began her career as a surgeon but dropped out of her surgical residency program in 2018, expressing disillusionment with conventional medicine. She then shifted her focus towards health technology and wellness advocacy.- Professional Ventures: Dr. Means is the co-founder of Levels, a health technology startup, and the author of the book "Good Energy."

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Means' academic accomplishments are indeed considerable. She graduated from Stanford with honors and served as class president. She also joined the faculty at Stanford before pursuing further training in Head and Neck Surgery. After dropping out of her surgical residency program, she focused on health technology and wellness advocacy, founding Levels and authoring "Good Energy."

The academic background of Dr. Casey Means, Trump's nominee for Surgeon General, includes graduating with honors from Stanford University, where she also served as class president.
In her career, Dr. Means began as a surgeon but left her residency program in 2018, expressing dissatisfaction with traditional medicine.
After leaving her surgical residency, Means shifted her focus to health technology and wellness advocacy, founding a startup called Levels and authoring a book titled "Good Energy."
Means' appointment as Surgeon General comes under scrutiny as she lacks government experience and her views on health and nutrition are controversial.
Despite these questions, Means' qualifications include a medical degree from Stanford University and her service as an advisor to the White House.
Dr. Means frequently uses her social media platforms to promote various dietary supplements, claiming they offer health benefits.
Trump's choice of Means reflects a broader trend within the administration, with a preference for non-traditional voices and a tendency to challenge established authorities in health and medicine.
Means' nomination follows the withdrawal of Janette Nesheiwat, a medical expert on Fox News, as Trump's initial nominee for Surgeon General.
Policies on health and nutrition, as well as on mental health, fitness, and exercise, have become a central focus of political debate, with Means frequently defending the administration's stance on these issues.
Means' nomination and Trump's expressed confidence in her abilities underscore the politicization of health and wellness, with policy decisions increasingly influenced by public opinion and wellness trends.

Trump selects wellness advocate Casey Means, a close associate of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, as his nominee for the surgeon general post.