Casey Means Faces Senate for Surgeon General Confirmation/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Dr. Casey Means appears before the Senate health committee seeking confirmation as U.S. surgeon general. The wellness entrepreneur and ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to outline her plan to combat chronic disease. Lawmakers are likely to question her qualifications, business ties and past product promotions.
Casey Means Senate Confirmation Hearing + Quick Looks
- Nominee: Casey Means, 38, physician and wellness entrepreneur
- Role sought: U.S. Surgeon General
- Ally of: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Focus: Chronic disease, nutrition, “root causes” of illness
- Ethics pledge: Divest from Levels, step away from business interests
- Critics: Former Surgeons General question qualifications
- Hearing begins 10 a.m. ET
Deep Look: Casey Means Faces Senate for Surgeon General Confirmation
Dr. Casey Means is set to appear before the Senate health committee Wednesday morning as she seeks confirmation to become the nation’s next surgeon general. The hearing marks a pivotal moment for the 38-year-old physician-turned-wellness entrepreneur, whose nomination has drawn both praise from supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement and skepticism from public health veterans.
Means is closely aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose department has recently emphasized dietary reform and chronic disease prevention amid political pressure over vaccine policy changes. If confirmed, Means would be tasked with helping promote Kennedy’s broad public health agenda, which calls for eliminating thousands of food additives, addressing conflicts of interest within federal agencies, and reshaping federal nutrition programs.
A Rescheduled Hearing
The confirmation hearing was originally slated for last October but was postponed when Means went into labor on the day she was scheduled to testify. Wednesday’s appearance offers her the first formal opportunity to present her qualifications and vision before lawmakers.
In prepared testimony obtained ahead of the hearing, Means describes the U.S. health care system as overly focused on what she calls “reactive sick care.” She is expected to urge a national shift toward prevention, writing:
“As Surgeon General, I would call on every American and the Public Health Service to join in a great national healing — one that halts preventable chronic disease, makes healthy living the easiest choice, honors the body’s connection to the environment, and puts America back on the road toward wholeness and health.”
Qualifications Under Scrutiny
The surgeon general serves as the nation’s top public health spokesperson and oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The office can issue advisories warning of emerging health threats and shape national conversations on issues ranging from smoking to mental health.
Means’ background differs from many past holders of the post. Though she earned her medical degree from Stanford University, she left her surgical residency at Oregon Health and Science University in 2018, citing frustration with what she described as systemic problems in modern medicine. Her medical license is not currently active.
After leaving traditional clinical training, Means launched a functional medicine practice in Oregon and later co-founded Levels, a technology company offering tools that track sleep, exercise, nutrition and blood glucose data.
Her pivot into entrepreneurship also brought financial success. Disclosures show she earned hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting health-related products, including supplements, teas, probiotics and prepared meal services. An Associated Press investigation previously found that she did not always clearly disclose potential financial benefits when recommending certain products.
In ethics filings, Means pledged to step down from her leadership role at Levels and divest stock or stock options if confirmed. She also committed to ending her work with Rupa Health, a specialty lab services company for which she created educational materials. While she may continue receiving royalties from her book Good Energy, she stated she will not promote it if confirmed.
Additionally, her filing notes she will avoid acquiring financial interests in companies listed on the Food and Drug Administration’s prohibited holdings list.
Vaccine Policy and Public Health Messaging
Although the surgeon general does not set vaccine policy, past officeholders have played influential roles in shaping public health messaging. Means has largely avoided repeating Kennedy’s debunked claims about vaccines but has called for expanded safety investigations — a stance that could draw questioning from senators on both sides of the aisle.
At least two former surgeons general have publicly expressed reservations. Dr. Rich Carmona, who served under President George W. Bush, wrote in an opinion piece that Means’ professional background raises concerns. Meanwhile, Dr. Jerome Adams, surgeon general during President Donald Trump’s first term, argued on social media that leading the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps traditionally requires an active medical license.
Family Ties and Political Context
Means would join an administration where her brother, Calley Means, already serves as a senior adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services. He has been an outspoken advocate against ultraprocessed foods and a vocal supporter of the administration’s nutrition-focused health initiatives.
Her nomination follows the withdrawal of Trump’s previous pick for surgeon general, Janette Nesheiwat, whose candidacy faltered amid criticism from conservative allies.
The confirmation process unfolds against a broader political backdrop. As midterm elections approach, the administration has shifted messaging toward chronic disease prevention and healthier eating — themes that resonate across party lines and avoid some of the polarization surrounding vaccine mandates and pandemic policy.
What Comes Next
Senators are expected to probe Means on her clinical experience, financial disclosures and views on vaccine oversight. They may also question how she would balance her preventive-health advocacy with the traditional scientific advisory role of the surgeon general.
If approved by committee and confirmed by the full Senate, Means would assume a role that carries significant symbolic weight, even if its formal policymaking power is limited. Her tenure could signal a reorientation of federal health messaging toward nutrition and lifestyle reform — and test whether her outsider background can translate into leadership within the federal public health system.
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