Key Points to Look Out for in the Confirmation Hearing for New Surgeon General Candidate
The health and wellness advocate, Dr. Casey Means, has been nominated for the position of Surgeon General. This is an important role that will require her to oversee a team of over 6,000 professionals, including physicians, nurses, and scientists, in the U.S. Public Health Service. As part of her duties, she will be responsible for issuing public health advisories and reports to share vital health information with the public.
Who is Dr. Casey Means?
Dr. Casey Means is known for her work in the wellness industry, entrepreneurship, and her writing. She gained fame with her best-selling book about diet and metabolic health titled 'Good Energy', which was co-authored with her older brother, Calley Means.
Despite her medical background, she did not finish her surgical residency and currently does not have an active medical license—a significant divergence from previous surgeon generals. She also runs a company that advocates for the use of continuous glucose monitors.
Dr. Means has expressed her views about America being in a "spiritual crisis". She has openly questioned the schedule for childhood vaccines and the use of birth control, and has criticized what she believes to be "corruption" in the FDA.
The Confirmation Hearing
It has been several months since it was announced that Dr. Casey Means would replace the original pick for this role. Interestingly, she will be taking part in the senate hearing remotely, which is not typical. The reason for her virtual attendance has not been disclosed, but her brother revealed that she was expecting a baby earlier this year.
The senators are likely to ask her tough questions about her qualifications and potential conflicts of interest. In financial documents released prior to the hearing, Dr. Means vowed to resign from her continuous glucose monitor company if she is confirmed. She has also promised to sever her financial ties to the supplement industry.
Dr. Means, who is 38 years old, graduated from Stanford Medical School. She was almost done with her residency training to become a head and neck surgeon before she decided to quit. Since then, she shifted her focus to functional medicine—a field that zeroes in on the root causes of illness and often includes lifestyle changes and alternative medicine methods that might not always be based on evidence.
She once had a functional medical practice in Oregon, but she did not become board certified and her Oregon medical license is currently inactive. Dr. Means has been growing her public profile on social media and through her book. Her messaging is often in line with the Make American Healthy Again movement, which emphasizes the high rates of chronic illnesses in the U.S.
Objections to the Nomination
There has been significant pushback against Dr. Means's nomination from medical and public health experts. They argue that she lacks the necessary leadership or clinical experience that previous surgeon generals have possessed. Others take issue with some of her views, such as her skepticism about the safety of the childhood vaccine schedule, her questions about hormonal birth control, and her endorsement of raw milk.
Opponents of her nomination argue that confirming Dr. Means for the role of Surgeon General, despite her not having completed medical training, would set a dangerous precedent for this crucial public health position.
Despite the opposition, it seems unlikely that the hearing would have been scheduled if there weren't confidence that Dr. Means could be confirmed. Previous health official nominations that were withdrawn usually occurred before a hearing took place.