Trump's Pick for Surgeon General Sparks Concerns Over Health Expertise and Conflict of Interest
President Donald Trump has nominated Casey Means, a wellness influencer and entrepreneur, to serve as the nation's top doctor. The appointment has raised concerns among medical experts who question her qualifications and potential conflicts of interest.
Means is best known for promoting "functional medicine," which she claims can help people achieve optimal health through dietary changes and alternative therapies. However, critics argue that this approach is often based on unproven and disproven practices that have no scientific backing.
One of the biggest concerns is Means' decision to drop out of her surgical residency program after just a few months, citing disillusionment with traditional medicine. This move has raised questions about her commitment to evidence-based medical practice.
Means also has anti-vaccination sentiments and has promoted alternative therapies that are not supported by scientific research. She has even invested in companies like Altria Group and Philip Morris International, two tobacco giants, which raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Medical experts fear that Means' appointment could bring a "flaky" approach to wellness influencing to the nation, where people need reliable information on how to stay healthy. Dr. Ryan Marino, a board-certified physician, described Means' ideas as "quackery" and warned that her promotion of alternative therapies could lead to widespread harm.
Means has also advocated for consuming organic produce as a way to heal the environment and improve health. However, experts like Emily Bass, director of Federal Policy, Food and Agriculture at the Breakthrough Institute, argue that this approach is impractical and may not have the benefits Means claims.
The concerns about Means' nomination are twofold. Not only does she lack the necessary expertise in evidence-based medicine, but her appointment could also be used to promote products and services that are not supported by scientific research.
As the nation's top doctor, the surgeon general has a critical role in communicating public health information and driving policy change. Means' appointment raises questions about whether she is equipped to fulfill this responsibility without promoting unproven or disproven treatments.
The nomination process for the surgeon general position is supposed to prioritize expertise and evidence-based medicine over personal interests or ideology. It remains to be seen whether Trump's choice of Casey Means will meet these standards.
President Donald Trump has nominated Casey Means, a wellness influencer and entrepreneur, to serve as the nation's top doctor. The appointment has raised concerns among medical experts who question her qualifications and potential conflicts of interest.
Means is best known for promoting "functional medicine," which she claims can help people achieve optimal health through dietary changes and alternative therapies. However, critics argue that this approach is often based on unproven and disproven practices that have no scientific backing.
One of the biggest concerns is Means' decision to drop out of her surgical residency program after just a few months, citing disillusionment with traditional medicine. This move has raised questions about her commitment to evidence-based medical practice.
Means also has anti-vaccination sentiments and has promoted alternative therapies that are not supported by scientific research. She has even invested in companies like Altria Group and Philip Morris International, two tobacco giants, which raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Medical experts fear that Means' appointment could bring a "flaky" approach to wellness influencing to the nation, where people need reliable information on how to stay healthy. Dr. Ryan Marino, a board-certified physician, described Means' ideas as "quackery" and warned that her promotion of alternative therapies could lead to widespread harm.
Means has also advocated for consuming organic produce as a way to heal the environment and improve health. However, experts like Emily Bass, director of Federal Policy, Food and Agriculture at the Breakthrough Institute, argue that this approach is impractical and may not have the benefits Means claims.
The concerns about Means' nomination are twofold. Not only does she lack the necessary expertise in evidence-based medicine, but her appointment could also be used to promote products and services that are not supported by scientific research.
As the nation's top doctor, the surgeon general has a critical role in communicating public health information and driving policy change. Means' appointment raises questions about whether she is equipped to fulfill this responsibility without promoting unproven or disproven treatments.
The nomination process for the surgeon general position is supposed to prioritize expertise and evidence-based medicine over personal interests or ideology. It remains to be seen whether Trump's choice of Casey Means will meet these standards.
! Trump's pick for Surgeon General, Casey Means, is a total red flag 
. I mean, she's got no medical training and has already dropped out of her residency program? 
That's like me trying to be a professional gamer without even playing video games 
. And don't even get me started on her anti-vaccination stance - that's just ignorant 
. And what about her ties to tobacco companies? 
This is like hiring a fire chief who's got a vested interest in selling insurance policies 
. We need evidence-based medicine, not some quackery promoting junk science 
. This appointment is a major concern for me, and I hope the Trump administration reconsiders their pick #NotMySurgeonGeneral
theyre gonna b promoting "functional medicine" which is just a bunch of unproven stuff 
and she's got ties to tobacco companies? 
this is like, surger gen material not instagram influencer stuff 
can we pleeease just stick w/ actual med experts?! 
And don't even get me started on her investments in tobacco companies - that's a huge conflict of interest! 
. And don't even get me started on her anti-vaxxer views - that's just not something you want in charge of public health info 
. I guess we'll have to wait and see how this plays out, but for now, I'm a bit skeptical about Trump's choice 
.
. If someone with a personal stake (think tobacco investments) is influencing our top health expert, something's gotta change 
. We need leaders who put science and evidence first, not just their own interests 
. Can we really trust someone with such a questionable track record? Not sure about it 
. I'm not saying we can't explore new ideas, but at least have some scientific backing, right? The fact that she dropped out of her surgical residency program is a huge red flag 
. And those tobacco investments? Don't even get me started 
. This whole thing is a mess and I just don't see how it's going to end well 
.
. Trump needs to go back to the drawing board and find someone with actual medical expertise 
.
. I'm all for alternative approaches to health, but when it comes to something as serious as the surgeon general position, we need someone who's gonna put science and evidence first 
. Can't we do better than this? 
and I tried the most incredible ramen bowl at this tiny shop in Tokyo 
. The flavors were so rich and savory, it was like a party in my mouth! And have you ever noticed how some ramen shops just get it right? Like, they're not trying to be fancy or anything, but the noodles are always perfectly cooked and the broth is so deep... anyway, back to this surgeon general thing. I mean, I'm no expert, but I do know that a good bowl of ramen can cure just about anything