President Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained doctor and health activist, as his new nominee for U.S. Surgeon General. The action is a major step toward Trump's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) campaign, a lifestyle medicine, preventive care, and wellness-driven movement.
Trump announced on his Twitter social media site, praising Means' compatibility with the health values of his administration and calling her credentials "impeccable." The 37-year-old will take over a job left vacant by Janette Nesheiwat, who has just quit the post. Dr. Means will have to face Senate confirmation hearings within the next few weeks.
RFK Jr.'s Reported Influence on Nomination
The selection appears to have been influenced by then-current Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. When asked about his choice, Trump stated, “Bobby thought she was fantastic,” referring to Kennedy's support for Means and his public health management.
Though not a formal member of the MAHA movement, Means has previously complimented RFK Jr.'s activism related to health and the environment. She also expressed similar interest in the etiology of long-term disease and the need for systemic change.
From the OR to National Health Advocacy
Dr. Casey Means was raised in Washington, D.C., and completed both her undergraduate and medical studies at Stanford University. But then her path dramatically changed within a few years of being a surgeon. Frightened by the prevalence of preventable chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity, Dr. Means abandoned the operating room.
During a 2023 interview with Joe Rogan, she explained how she dropped surgery at 30 years old to focus on what she felt was truly the problem: America's worsening metabolic health.
Author, entrepreneur, health evangelist
To help people better know their bodies and health, Dr. Means co-authored the New York Times best-selling book Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health with his brother, Kelly Means. Published in 2024, the book was an immediate New York Times bestseller and promotes simple, science-backed lifestyle changes.
She co-founded Levels, a health tech company that allows consumers to track their metabolic health through measures like nutrition, glucose, sleep, and exercise. For $40 a month in subscriptions, the platform aims to empower consumers with personalized health information.
What’s Next for Dr. Means?
If approved, Dr. Means would be one of Trump's strongest spokesmen for his national health policy. His focus on preventive and cause-oriented medicine might be a radical shift in how the federal government approaches public health, putting lifestyle and metabolic health in the spotlight.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)