The affirmation of wellness influencer Casey Means, Donald Trump’s choose to grow to be the subsequent U.S. surgeon basic, is unsure after her look earlier than the Senate well being committee final week.
Some Republican members — together with Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Invoice Cassidy of Louisiana — stated they nonetheless hadn’t decided after Dr. Means gave ambiguous solutions about her stances on vaccines.
Throughout her listening to, Means careworn her focus is on addressing the foundation causes of persistent sickness: “Our nation is indignant, exhausted, and hurting,” she stated. “If we’re addressing shared root causes, we’re going to have the ability to cease the whack-a-mole drugs that’s not working for us.”
The Senate’s well being committee nonetheless should determine whether or not to advance her nomination. From there, it could go to a vote earlier than the total Senate.
In contrast to previous Surgeon Generals, Means doesn’t have board certifications or an lively medical license. Whereas she accomplished her coaching as a medical physician and holds an MD, she dropped out of residency and doesn’t have board {qualifications} or an lively medical license. A powerful proponent of the Make America Wholesome Once more (MAHA) motion, she has lengthy criticized mainstream drugs and the ability of the pharmaceutical business. She’s criticized the usage of pesticides and different environmental toxins, and likewise publicly voiced controversial views on vaccines and contraception, amongst different matters.
Right here’s a more in-depth have a look at Means and her background, in addition to what a possible affirmation as America’s prime physician may imply for public well being.
Who Is Casey Means?
Means is a medical physician who obtained her diploma from Stanford College in 2014. She did 4 years of head and neck surgical coaching in otolaryngology — a speciality generally known as an ear, nostril, and throat physician, or ENT.
Her official biography says that she resigned from her residency in 2018 to “concentrate on reforming the ‘sick care’ paradigm in American healthcare.”
Means has carried out biomedical analysis, and opened a non-public apply in Oregon in 2019 known as Means Well being that targeted on holistic well being and practical drugs. Nonetheless, she finally stopped working towards drugs, and her license expired.
Additionally in 2019, Means cofounded the well being firm Ranges, which markets steady glucose screens to folks with out diabetes for the aim of “revers[ing] the metabolic illness epidemic” and optimizing well being.
In 2024, she revealed the e-book Good Power: The Shocking Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Well being, which means that bettering metabolic well being can decrease the chance of melancholy, infertility, insomnia, coronary heart illness, and different persistent diseases.
What Does the Surgeon Common Do?
The surgeon basic’s objective is to speak “the very best scientific data obtainable” on well being and sickness to the general public, normally by advisories, studies, and calls to motion, says Jeff Niederdeppe, PhD, a professor of communication and an affiliate director of the Cornell Well being Coverage Heart in Ithaca, New York.
The surgeon basic additionally oversees the U.S. Public Service Commissioned Corps, which Dr. Niederdeppe describes as “a public well being fast response staff of kinds.” Whereas the surgeon basic doesn’t set coverage, the particular person holding the title “advises policymaking our bodies,” Niederdeppe says.
However the energy of the surgeon basic is considerably restricted, says Georges Benjamin, MD, an inner drugs physician and CEO of the nonprofit American Public Well being Affiliation. “The surgeon basic has no regulatory coverage or authority straight,” he says. “Many of the surgeon basic’s powers have been moved to the secretary of the Division of Well being and Human Providers,” at present Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Nonetheless, Means has an current relationship with Kennedy, alongside together with her personal public following. If authorised, “She can have monumental clout,” Dr. Benjamin says.
Casey Means’s Public Stances on Large Well being Points, Defined
Right here’s what Means has stated about main well being points.
Vaccines
Means has been a vocal critic of vaccines and the American vaccination schedule. “There’s rising proof that the entire burden of the present excessive and rising vaccine schedule is inflicting well being declines in susceptible kids,” she wrote in a Could 2024 publication. “This must be investigated.”
Means took a extra reasonable strategy throughout her affirmation listening to when requested if she would suggest that folks vaccinate their kids towards measles.
“I’m not a person’s physician. And each particular person wants to speak to their physician earlier than placing a drugs of their physique,” she stated. “I completely am supportive of the measles vaccine, and I do consider vaccines save lives.”
When requested by Senator Tom Kaine of Virginia if the flu vaccine reduces severe sickness and hospitalization, Means reiterated her stance that the choice to get any vaccine ought to be a person resolution made in session with one’s physician. When Kaine pressed her for a extra direct reply, she stated the shot was efficient “on the inhabitants stage.”
Scientists typically agree that particular person vaccination can assist forestall flu transmission inside a neighborhood; this impact is often known as herd immunity.
Autism
Means was measured in how she responded to questions on autism throughout her listening to.
“The fact is that we’ve got an autism disaster that’s growing and that is devastating to many households. We have no idea as a medical neighborhood what causes autism,” she stated.
Means stated that she “accepts” proof that exhibits vaccines don’t trigger autism. “I additionally suppose that science is rarely settled,” she stated.
Meals and Pesticides
In 2025 look on The Tucker Carlson Present together with her brother and frequent collaborator Calley Means, she stated that persistent diseases are pushed by a “poisonous meals system and our poisonous setting,” including, “these delicate insidious forces that are creating sluggish progressive sickness … permit sufferers to be worthwhile and on the pharma treadmill for his or her total lives.” Because of this, Means stated, individuals are “drugged for all times.”
She has particularly spoken out in regards to the well being risks of glyphosate, the lively ingredient within the broadly used pesticide Roundup.
When requested through the listening to about her stance on glyphosate, Means replied: “We should as a rustic transfer away from utilizing poisonous inputs in our meals provide and we should examine these chemical compounds extra to know their results. I’m very gravely involved in regards to the well being impacts of those chemical compounds.”
Hormonal Beginning Management
Means has been crucial of oral contraception previously, writing in her publication that “we use contraception drugs like sweet in girls to attempt to management the cycles of girls,” and means that these drugs are “neutralizing our life drive.” Means additionally inspired folks to “cease overusing contraception drugs en masse for illogical causes like zits.”
In the course of the listening to, Means stated that she thinks girls ought to have entry to oral contraceptives, however they need to even be better-educated about potential dangers.
Dietary supplements
In the course of the listening to, Means was requested about potential conflicts of curiosity from receiving at the very least $325,000 to advertise dietary supplements since 2024, together with the $1,500 annual membership payment required to make use of Ranges.
“You’ve stated that our healthcare system is damaged, however it appears to me that you just’ve spent your profession earning profits off the issues of the system,” stated Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Means responded by saying these have been “incorrect characterizations” and that she is “dedicated to giving People the very best public well being data potential.”
