President Donald Trump announced on May 7 that Dr. Casey Means—a functional medicine physician aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.—would be his new nominee for surgeon general after he withdrew his initial pick for the role.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that Means has “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials,” referencing the “Make America Healthy Again” platform introduced by Kennedy.
Means will work to eradicate chronic disease and improve the health and well-being of Americans, Trump added.
“Her academic achievements, together with her life’s work, are absolutely outstanding,” Trump said. “Dr. Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History.”
Initially, Trump nominated Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for the surgeon general post.
Nesheiwat, a medical doctor for an urgent care company, was originally scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing on May 8.
Generally considered America’s doctor, the surgeon general manages 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps members and can issue public health threat advisories.
Means graduated from Stanford University Medical School. Her brother, Calley Means, is also a Kennedy ally who serves as a special government employee at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Casey Means co-authored “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health” with her brother in 2024.
In 2021, she saw her mother, Gayle Means, die of pancreatic cancer, “a preventable metabolic condition,” she details in the book’s dedication. Her mother’s death followed years of enduring prediabetes and high blood pressure.
At the time of her death, Gayle Means was taking five medications and seeing five specialists.
Last September, Casey Means told The Epoch Times that human bodies, like machines, need “fuel” to effectively function. Processed food and environmental toxins have made it more challenging to find clean fuel, she noted.
Good fuel is key to having “good energy,” or good metabolic health, Means added.
“The message of ‘Good Energy’ helps people connect the various dots in why this is so, and I think there is a big appetite for that information. Americans want to be healthy, but the system is set up for poor health,” she added.
Nesheiwat will fill another role at HHS, Trump said.
“My focus continues to be on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, and that mission hasn’t changed,” she said.
Removing chemicals and toxins from America’s food supply and addressing what he calls the nation’s chronic disease epidemic are among Kennedy’s priorities as HHS secretary.
