Earlier this week, President Donald Trump introduced he will probably be nominating Dr. Casey Means for U.S. surgeon normal, changing his former choose, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, after questions emerged about her credentials.
Means has been outstanding within the “Make America Wholesome Once more” motion championed by Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a post on social media, Trump mentioned Means would work intently with Kennedy “to make sure a profitable implementation of our Agenda with the intention to reverse the Persistent Illness Epidemic, and guarantee Nice Well being, sooner or later, for ALL Individuals.”
Means describes herself on-line as a “former surgeon turned metabolic well being evangelist” who’s “striving to create a happier and more healthy world and planet.”
Here’s what we learn about Means’ background and what her views are on numerous well being subjects.
Medical background
Means graduated from Stanford College in 2009 with a bachelor’s diploma in human biology and a physician of medication diploma from Stanford College of Medication in 2014, in keeping with her LinkedIn profile.
She was a resident doctor at Oregon Well being and Science College with the aim of turning into an otolaryngology surgeon, often known as a head and neck surgeon, however she dropped out in her fifth yr.
“Throughout my coaching as a surgeon, I noticed how damaged and exploitative the healthcare system is and left to give attention to the right way to hold folks out of the working room,” she wrote on her website.
Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer, attends a affirmation listening to for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Secretary of Well being and Human Companies publish, on the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025.
Ben Curtis/AP
Means went on to check useful medication, which appears to forestall illness and sickness. She shouldn’t be board-certified in a medical specialty.
The Oregon Medical Board at the moment lists her medical license as inactive.
Following her exit from the residency, she was a visitor lecturer at Stanford for lower than a yr and an affiliate editor on the Worldwide Journal of Illness Reversal and Prevention for 2 and a half years, in keeping with LinkedIn.
Over the course of her profession, she co-founded Ranges, an app that enables folks to trace their meals. together with biometric information like sleep and glucose monitoring, to see how their food regimen is impacting their well being.
Rise to prominence
Means wrote a e-book along with her brother, Calley Means, titled “Good Power,” which was revealed in Could 2024 and allegedly takes a take a look at why Individuals are sick and the right way to repair it.
The Means siblings appeared on podcasts, together with The Tucker Carlson Present in August 2024 and The Joe Rogan Expertise in October 2024.
On Tucker Carlson’s present, Casey Means mentioned contraception is being “prescribed like sweet” and that Ozempic has a “stranglehold on the U.S. inhabitants.”
The siblings rose to prominence within the Trump campaign and amongst Trump allies, together with Kennedy. They appeared at a September 2024 roundtable discussion on health with Kennedy hosted by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc.
“The message I am right here to share and reiterate is that American well being is getting destroyed,” Casey Means mentioned throughout her opening remarks. “It is being destroyed due to persistent sickness.”
In the meantime, Calley Means at the moment serves as White Home senior adviser and particular authorities worker. He has labored intently with Kennedy and has touted lots of his well being proposals.
Controversial views
Casey Means’ views mirror these of Kennedy’s with a give attention to tackling the persistent illness epidemic, making a more healthy meals provide and expressing vaccine skepticism.
She has referred to as for the removing of ultra-processed meals at school lunches and has advocated for natural, regenerative meals at school meals.
Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks throughout an occasion with President Donald Trump to signal govt orders and proclamations within the Oval Workplace of the White Home, Could 5, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
In 2021, she wrote in a post on X that glucose “as a molecule has induced extra destruction of the human thoughts and physique than some other substance in human historical past.”
Glucose is a naturally occurring molecule that our physique is dependent upon for power.
Casey Means has expressed skepticism concerning the security of childhood vaccines and has referred to as for extra analysis on the “security of the cumulative results” of vaccines when following the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) vaccine schedule, she wrote in her Good Power publication.
“There may be rising proof that the entire burden of the present excessive and rising vaccine schedule is inflicting well being declines in weak kids. This must be investigated,” she continued.
She has additionally criticized the administration of hepatitis B vaccine amongst infants, which is recommended by the CDC.
There may be at the moment no proof to counsel that childhood vaccines or the present CDC vaccine schedule are unsafe.
ABC Information’ Katherine Faulders and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
