Casey Means Set to Face Senate Confirmation as Surgeon General

Thu Oct 30 2025 18:47:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Pregnant physician and wellness influencer Casey Means is poised for a Senate confirmation hearing, where she aims to redefine America's approach to public health alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician and wellness advocate, is nominated to become the U.S. Surgeon General. With an emphasis on addressing chronic disease through better nutrition and alternative health strategies, she faces scrutiny over her qualifications and financial disclosures ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing.

NEW YORK (CIVITAS.GLOBAL) — Casey Means, a popular wellness influencer with a medical background, is set to testify before the Senate on Thursday as she seeks to be confirmed as the country's next surgeon general.

Currently pregnant, Means plans to attend her confirmation hearing remotely where she aims to present her vision for tackling chronic diseases by addressing root causes, echoing the 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The 38-year-old author and entrepreneur must also address concerns regarding her qualifications and financial entanglements. Critics point to her lack of government experience and the inactivity of her medical license, having left a surgical residency in 2018, citing dissatisfaction with the healthcare system.

The role of the surgeon general is crucial, acting as a primary spokesperson on public health concerns in the U.S. If confirmed, Means would represent an administration already pushing for extensive reforms, including greater transparency around vaccines, food safety, and pharmaceutical regulations.

Means co-founded Levels, a health management platform focused on nutrition and lifestyle tracking, a move reflecting her belief in addressing metabolic dysfunction caused by poor dietary choices. Financial disclosures reveal her substantial earnings promoting various health products, although there were allegations of undisclosed profits from some recommendations she made.

In her ethics filing, Means committed to resigning from her position with Levels if confirmed and divesting any stocks related to her business interests. Additionally, she has pledged to avoid acquiring financial stakes in entities listed by the FDA as prohibited holdings.

As surgeon general, Means would oversee a cadre of 6,000 health service members and issue public health advisories. She supports Kennedy’s expansive agenda, which aims to eliminate harmful additives from food and reform health programs. However, she maintains a cautious distance from completely adopting Kennedy's controversial stances on vaccination safety.

Her nomination follows the withdrawal of a previous candidate for the role amid criticism. Senate Health Committee chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has indicated an eagerness to discuss how Means plans to fulfill Trump’s commitment to health transparency and institutional trust.