Dr. Casey Means appeared before the Senate health committee on Wednesday for her confirmation hearing to become the next US Surgeon General. The 38-year-old wellness influencer, author and entrepreneur laid out a vision focused on addressing the root causes of chronic disease, arguing that the country needs to move away from what she described as reactive sick care and toward prevention-focused medicine. Her message aligns closely with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement and has drawn some bipartisan support given widespread concern about rising chronic disease rates.
However, the hearing also surfaced serious questions about her qualifications and past conduct. Means dropped out of her surgical residency in 2018 after graduating from Stanford Medical School, citing disillusionment with the healthcare system. Her medical license is not currently active, and she has no government experience. An Associated Press investigation previously found that she promoted health and wellness products at times without disclosing financial relationships, something senators pressed her on directly. She denied the claims and said she takes conflicts of interest seriously. Her ethics filing commits to resigning from her nutrition tracking app Levels and divesting related financial interests if confirmed.
Senators from both parties sought clear answers on vaccines. When asked whether she would encourage Americans to get vaccinated against flu and measles amid ongoing outbreaks, she declined to make that commitment and instead emphasised informed consent between patients and their doctors. She also said she accepts evidence that vaccines may contribute to autism while adding that science is never settled, a position that drew scrutiny given the overwhelming research to the contrary. On birth control, she said oral contraceptives should be available to all women but raised concerns about what she called horrifying side effects and inadequate informed consent conversations.
Senator Bernie Sanders, the committee’s ranking member, said he has very serious questions about whether Means is the kind of Surgeon General the country needs. At least two former Surgeons General have also publicly raised concerns about her qualifications. Means is the sister of Calley Means, who already serves as a senior adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services. Her confirmation hearing had previously been rescheduled from October after she went into labor on the day she was set to appear.
