Trump's Surgeon General Nominee Linked to RFK Jr: Casey Means' Background Examined
Trump's Unconventional Pick for Surgeon General
Donald Trump has selected wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means to be his nominee for the Surgeon General position. Despite the 'Doctor' title, rumors swirl that she may not possess a traditional medical degree.
The US President speaks highly of Dr. Means, praising her as having "stellar MAHA credentials." If confirmed by the Senate committee, she'll be working with Trump's controversial Health Chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr, whom she reportedly has a close relationship with.
Dr. Means stepped in as Trump's nominee after right-wing activist Laura Loomer questioned Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor, on social media.
But who is this new nominee, and what are her views on health?
From Physician to Tech Entrepreneur
Dr. Means, 37, boasts undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University and has held research positions at notable institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, New York University, and Oregon Health and Science University. However, she left her surgical residency program, expressing disillusionment with traditional medicine, and established a health tech company, Levels. The company's app assists users in monitoring blood sugar levels and other vital metrics.
In addition to promoting health supplements, creams, teas, and products on her social media accounts, Dr. Means co-authored "Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health" with her brother, Calley Means. Both have served as advisers for Kennedy's longshot 2024 presidential bid.
Calley Means, a former lobbyist, has recently been appointed as a White House advisor for Trump's MAHA campaign. In announcing Dr. Means as his nominee, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Her academic achievements and overall career accomplishments are extraordinary."
Her Beliefs and Controversies
Dr. Means has gained a large online following by criticizing the medical establishment and advocating for natural foods and lifestyle changes to combat obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. While she's avoided Kennedy's controversial and debunked views on vaccines, she's expressed a need for further vaccination safety investigations and suggested making it easier for patients to sue pharmaceutical companies in case of vaccine injuries.
In an appearance on Tucker Carlson's podcast, Dr. Means expressed skepticism about the necessity of following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccination schedule, particularly for hepatitis B, which she views as another example of Americans being pushed onto the pharmaceutical industry's treadmill from birth.
Metabolic Health Advocate
Dr. Means is known for her focus on metabolic dysfunction and its role in chronic diseases. She promotes the idea of metabolic health, which involves the body processing food effectively to maintain key health indicators like blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight within healthy ranges.
In interviews and articles, she and her brother attribute common health problems in the US to various factors, such as "corrupt" food conglomerates exploiting people with unhealthy diets and the pharmaceutical industry profiting from the resulting chronic conditions.
The Role of the Surgeon General
As the nation's doctor, the Surgeon General supervises the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and can issue advisories addressing public health threats. They are responsible for providing citizens with the best scientific information available on improving health, minimizing risk of illness and injury, and guiding the USPHS mission to promote and advance national health.
Under an unconventional administration led by Trump, Dr. Means' role would involve supporting Kennedy's extensive agenda, which focuses on removing harmful additives and chemicals from US foods, eliminating conflicts of interest at federal agencies, and promoting healthier food options in school lunches and other public nutrition programs.
Dr. Means will face a confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The confirmation process may be fraught with obstacles due to criticism over her qualifications and background, raising questions about her ability to tackle the challenges of the role.
- Dr. Means' metabolic health advocacy centers around the role of metabolic dysfunction in chronic diseases.
- In her view, the body's effective food processing is crucial for maintaining key health indicators within healthy ranges.
- She often attributes common health issues in the US to factors like unhealthy diets and the pharmaceutical industry's exploitation of chronic conditions.
- Dr. Means co-authored a book, "Good Energy," with her brother, Calley Means, who is now a White House advisor for Trump's MAHA campaign.
- She has expressed skepticism about following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccination schedule, particularly for hepatitis B.
- Dr. Means avoids controversial views on vaccines, but she believes further investigations into vaccination safety are necessary.
- She also suggests making it easier for patients to sue pharmaceutical companies in case of vaccine injuries.
- Dr. Means left her surgical residency program to establish a health tech company, Levels, which assists users in monitoring blood sugar levels.
- She promotes health supplements, creams, teas, and products on her social media accounts.
- Her unique background as both a physician and tech entrepreneur sets her apart from traditional nominees for the Surgeon General position.
- Despite rumors about her lack of a traditional medical degree, Dr. Means holds undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University.
- Her research positions included notable institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, New York University, and Oregon Health and Science University.
- If confirmed by the Senate committee, Dr. Means will work with Trump's controversial Health Chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- The US President praised Dr. Means' stellar MAHA credentials when announcing her as his nominee.
- Dr. Means stepped in as Trump's nominee after right-wing activist Laura Loomer questioned another nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, on social media.
- Her focus on metabolic health and lifestyle changes could potentially reshape public health recommendations and policy if she is confirmed as Surgeon General.
- An unconventional administration led by Trump may provide Dr. Means with an opportunity to implement her alternative views on health and wellness.
- Her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee promises to be a significant event, given the controversy surrounding her lack of traditional medical training.
- Trump's Health Chief, Kennedy, has a longshot 2024 presidential bid, and both Dr. Means and her brother have served as advisers for his campaign.
- As the nation's doctor, the Surgeon General supervises the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and can issue advisories addressing public health threats.
- They are responsible for providing citizens with the best scientific information available on improving health, minimizing risk of illness and injury, and guiding the USPHS mission.
- Under Kennedy's extensive agenda, Dr. Means' role would involve removing harmful additives and chemicals from US foods.
- She would also focus on eliminating conflicts of interest at federal agencies and promoting healthier food options in school lunches and other public nutrition programs.
- Innovations in science and technology, such as supplements, medical-grade fitness trackers, and research on chronic-kidney-disease treatments could potentially be integrated into her vision for a healthier America.
- Therapies and treatments for type-2-diabetes and respiratory conditions could also benefit from her metabolic health focus and advocacy.
- In addition to work on healthcare, her nomination has sparked interest in other arenas, such as nutrition, healthy-diets, and eye-health.
- The role of the Surgeon General extends to mental-health issues, making it important for Dr. Means to have a comprehensive understanding of both physical health and mental wellness.
- Therapies and treatments for chronic-diseases, such as chronic-kidney-disease and type-2-diabetes, may see improvements under her leadership, given her focus on metabolic health.
- Her approach to fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and nutrition may shape workplace wellness programs across different industries, including finance, home-and-garden, and technology.
- Focusing on wellness and healthy-lifestyle choices as a means to combat chronic diseases could potentially lower healthcare costs and increase overall productivity in various sectors, including retail, outdoor-living, and adventure-travel.
