President Donald Trump nominated doctor and wellness influencer Casey Means ’09 M.D. ’14 for the role of U.S. Surgeon General last week. If confirmed by the senate, Means will be the first Stanford Medicine alumnus to serve as Surgeon General.
Often referred to as the “nation’s doctor,” the Surgeon General is the country’s leading spokesperson for matters of public health and is responsible for leading the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC).
Means, a proponent of functional and alternative medicine, belongs to a subset of physicians who stray from traditional medicine. Labeling themselves the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, many advocates of alternative medicine have found a home in the Trump administration, including recently appointed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In February, Trump signed an executive order establishing the “President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission” in order to “fully address the growing health crisis in America.”
Trump noted this affiliation when announcing her nomination, writing in a Truth Social post that “Casey has impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans.”
After majoring in human biology as an undergraduate, Means graduated from the Stanford School of Medicine in 2010 and then began a surgical residency at Oregon Health & Science University. She dropped out of her residency in 2019, however, after witnessing “how broken and exploitative the healthcare system is,” according to her website. After leaving residency, Means founded Levels Health, a company providing personal metabolic health monitoring.
She became popular as an influencer on Instagram, making appearances on a number of media outlets popular in right-wing circles, including Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan’s podcasts.
According to her newsletter, Means’ “health wishlist” for the administration includes eliminating the ability of pharmaceutical companies to advertise on television, reviewing the quality of food provided by the National School Lunch Program and reforming the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.
Means has faced criticism for expressing doubt about the safety of childhood vaccinations, her promotion of supplements and her lack of clinical experience. She is expected to face challenges during the Senate confirmation process.
Means is also Trump’s second choice for Surgeon General. He withdrew his first nomination of former Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat after her medical credentials came under bipartisan scrutiny. Nesheiwat will now serve with Kennedy “in another capacity at HHS,” according to Trump’s Truth Social Post.
In 2024, Means co-authored the New York Times bestselling book “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health” with her brother, Calley Means ’08. Calley was recently hired as a special government employee for the HHS.