Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer, author and entrepreneur, appeared before the Senate health committee on Wednesday as she sought approval to become the nation’s next surgeon general, drawing a mix of questions about public health messaging and the record behind her candidacy.
Means, 38, told senators in Washington that “Our nation is angry, exhausted and hurting,” and argued that “If we’re addressing shared root causes, we’re going to be able to stop the whack-a-mole medicine that’s not working for us.” She presented the approach as an alternative to what she described as reactive care and said she wanted to focus on underlying causes of chronic disease rather than addressing symptoms after the fact.
Senators also tied her confirmation to the broader health agenda of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including a “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, while noting that the surgeon general does not write vaccine policy. If confirmed, the office could issue advisories warning of public health threats and help shape how Americans interpret guidance, lawmakers said in questioning that reflected divisions on vaccines and reproductive health issues in recent years.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican who chairs the committee, asked Means whether she would advise Americans to vaccinate against flu and measles during outbreaks. Cassidy also asked whether she accepts evidence that vaccines do not cause autism. Means said she “accept[s] that evidence,” adding that “science is never settled,” and she said she looked forward to the results of a federal effort to study environmental contributors to autism, noting the National Institutes of Health is funding such research, though it was not clear when findings would be made public.
Means also faced questions about her views on a hepatitis B vaccination recommendation for infants. She said she supports the CDC’s approach to the birth dose and told senators that promoting universal vaccination against the disease “at some point in childhood” was worthwhile, even as senators referenced a past change by the CDC that was criticized by some scientific and medical groups.
Other senators questioned Means about her past comments related to hormonal birth control. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, asked Means to address comments Means had made that birth control pills were being prescribed “like candy” and showed a “disrespect of things that create life.” Means said she believes oral contraceptives should be available to all women, but she raised concerns about “horrifying side effects” that can occur for certain populations, and she said she thinks doctors do not have enough time for a thorough informed consent conversation.
Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, brought up Means’ writing and personal experience with psychedelic mushrooms, and asked about what that could mean for her role as a public health official. Means responded that what she would say “as a private citizen” could differ from what she would say as an official, and she said she would not recommend psychedelics for the public.
Beyond specific policy questions, senators challenged Means’ qualifications and potential conflicts. During the hearing, Means described her goal for the surgeon general’s office as “get more whole, healthy foods on American plates,” and she discussed an unconventional path into medicine that included leaving a surgical residency program at Oregon Health and Science University in 2018. The hearing record also included details about her professional background and the financial disclosures and ethics concerns that have dogged her candidacy, including Associated Press reporting that found she sometimes failed to disclose how she could benefit financially from promoting wellness products.
Senators also questioned her physician license status, and whether she currently has an active license to practice as a physician. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont’s independent who is the ranking member of the committee, said Wednesday that he has “very serious questions about the ability of Dr. Means to be the kind of surgeon general this country needs.”
The committee next will consider whether to advance Means’ nomination, which would send it to the full Senate for a vote.