(DDM) – Dr. Casey Means is preparing to make her case on Capitol Hill as she seeks confirmation to become the nation’s next surgeon general.
Her nomination comes as she aligns herself with the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who currently serves as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
If confirmed, Means would serve as the country’s top public health spokesperson under President Donald Trump, placing her at the center of debates over vaccines, chronic disease and federal health priorities.
Means, a physician turned wellness influencer, has argued that the United States faces a crisis of chronic illness driven by metabolic disease, poor nutrition and environmental factors. Her supporters view her focus on lifestyle-driven prevention as a needed shift in public health strategy.
However, her association with Kennedy’s MAHA platform could complicate her confirmation. Kennedy has drawn criticism from some lawmakers and medical groups over his past vaccine skepticism and unconventional health policy views. As surgeon general, Means would be expected to communicate science-based guidance to the public, a role that requires bipartisan credibility.
Means was initially scheduled to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last October, but the hearing was canceled on the morning it was set to occur after she went into labor with her first child. The session has since been rescheduled for Wednesday.
During her appearance, senators are expected to press Means on where she stands regarding Kennedy’s policy priorities. She may face pointed questions about vaccine safety and effectiveness, reproductive health access, food regulation and environmental health standards.
Supporters argue that Means represents a new generation of health leadership focused on prevention rather than treatment alone. Critics counter that the surgeon general must be firmly grounded in established public health consensus and able to reassure a divided nation.
Ultimately, the confirmation hearing could serve as a referendum not only on Means’ qualifications but also on whether the administration’s broader “Make America Healthy Again” message can win broader public trust.
