Surgeon General nominee abandoned medical residency due to stress, asserted by ex-department head.
President Trump's latest health pick, Dr. Casey Means, is a holistic medicine doctor and wellness guru nominated to be the surgeon general. Sounds like another move to shaken up traditional medicine and federal health policy, huh?
Trump introduced Means as the perfect fit to implement his "Make America Healthy Again" mission alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his Health and Human Services secretary. The president claimed Means has all the right "MAHA" credentials and will work hand-in-hand with Kennedy.
But is Means as aligned with Kennedy's controversial views as Trump suggests? Some friends question whether there are differences between the two when it comes to topics like vaccines and public health.
Means is a Stanford med school grad who fell out of love with orthodox medicine during her residency. Now she's a metabolic health preacher, using her Twitter, Instagram, and a newsletter to share her unconventional views on health.
Paul Flint, an old mentor of Means' from her residency days, raised some doubts about her ability to be an effective surgeon general. According to him, Means was plagued by anxiety during her residency and eventually dropped out.
As for her views on vaccines, it's a mixed bag. Sometimes she's been critical of certain vaccines like the hepatitis B shot and raised concerns about their potential risks. At other times, she's spoken favorably about vaccines in general.
Despite some confusion over her stance, Means attended Robert Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing and even celebrated his swearing-in. Over the last year, she's publicly spoken out against some vaccines and expressed concerns about vaccine mandates, although it's unclear whether she holds the same anti-vaccine views as Kennedy.
Friend Robert Lustig, a professor of pediatrics at UC San Francisco, raised questions about Means' alignment with Kennedy. Lustig said Means initially declined to work with Kennedy because of their differences on vaccines and other controversial topics.
We reached out to Means for comment, but she didn't respond. Crazy, huh? Maybe she's too busy cooking up tofu scrambles and planning her family's future in Hawaii.
One thing's for sure: if confirmed, Means would bring a whole new perspective to the U.S. government, focusing on food as the key to solving chronic diseases. So, don't expect Means to prescribe you any pills or surgeries anytime soon.
Enrichment Data: Means' nomination to become surgeon general highlights her alignment with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s controversial views, especially those on vaccines[1][2]. Some question whether she shares Kennedy's full agenda, with particularly intense disagreements on vaccine policies. However, without explicit statements from Means, her stance on vaccines remains somewhat unclear[1][2].
Sources:[1] The Times - A pivotal senator says he extracted vaccine concessions from RFK Jr. How will that play out?[2] Truth Social - President Trump Makes Vaccine Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the Nation's Top Health Official (Statement by Donald J. Trump, 12/29/2021)
- Dr. Casey Means, President Trump's nominee for surgeon general, is known for her holistic medicine approach, aligning with the president's "Make America Healthy Again" mission.
- Means' nomination has sparked debate due to her perceived alignment with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s controversial views, particularly on vaccines.
- A concern for some is whether Means shares Kennedy's full agenda, especially on vaccine policies, as they have differences on this topic.
- A Stanford med school graduate, Means has expressed her views on health through Twitter, Instagram, and a newsletter, advocating for metabolic health and unconventional approaches.
- Some, like Paul Flint, question her ability to be an effective surgeon general due to her struggles with anxiety during her residency.
- Means' stance on vaccines seems conflicts, with criticism of certain vaccines like the hepatitis B shot, but also favorable comments about vaccines in general.
- Despite these mixed signs, Means attended Kennedy's confirmation hearing and even celebrated his swearing-in, but publicly voiced concerns about vaccine mandates.
- Friends like Robert Lustig, a UC San Francisco professor, question whether Means fully aligns with Kennedy due to their differences on various controversial topics, including vaccines.
- Means' nomination could bring a fresh perspective to U.S. government health policy, with a focus on food and nutrition as key to addressing chronic diseases.
- Her nomination also raises questions about government finance, as her holistic approach contrasts with traditional medicine and orthodox approaches, which are heavily influenced by business and pharmaceutical interests.
