Casey Means
Casey Means | |
|---|---|
Means in 2020 | |
| Surgeon General of the United States | |
Nominee | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Succeeding | Denise Hinton (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paula Casey Means September 24, 1987 |
| Relatives | Calley Means (brother) |
| Education | Stanford University (BS, MD) |
Casey Means (born Paula Casey Means; September 24, 1987) is an American medical doctor, businesswoman, author and politician. She has been seen as one of the leaders of the Make America Healthy Again movement.
Means is known for her works about functional medicine, a form of alternative medicine. She co-founded the health company Levels. Means co-wrote Good Energy, a wellness book with her brother, Calley, in 2024.
In May 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Means as surgeon general, after he withdrew Janette Nesheiwat's nomination.
Early life
Casey was born on September 24, 1987. She was raised in Washington, D.C.. Her father, Grady Means, worked as an assistant to Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. Means graduated with a bachelors degree from Stanford University before earning a Doctor of Medicine degree from Stanford Medical School.[1]
After medical school, she started a residency in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of Oregon Health and Science University. Six months before the end of the five year program, she dropped out of her surgical residency, having become a critic of the healthcare in the United States.[2]
Career
In 2019, she co-founded the digital health company Levels Health.[3][4] Casey and Calley Means wrote the 2024 book Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health.[5] Means stopped treating patients, and her medical license became inactive in January 2024.[6][7]
2024 presidential election
In October 2024, it was reported that she was seen as a possible candidate to lead the Food and Drug Administration under a second Trump administration.[8] During the 2024 presidential election, Means was active in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign and supported his Make America Healthy Again platform.[9][10]
After Trump was elected and Kennedy Jr. was nominated for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy Jr. had asked Trump to think about nominating Means for surgeon general or FDA commissioner.[11]
U.S. Surgeon General
On May 7, 2025, the Trump administration withdrew Janette Nesheiwat's nomination as surgeon general. Hours later, Trump announced that he would nominate Means as surgeon general.[12] Trump said he did not know Means but nominated her because Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. recommended her for the job.[13]
References
- ↑ "Dr. Casey Means". Casey Means M.D. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ↑ Cueto, Isabella. "With boost from RFK Jr. and Tucker Carlson, two chronic disease entrepreneurs vault into Trump's orbit". STAT. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ↑ Ravindran, Sandeep (14 March 2022). "Here Come the Artificial Intelligence Nutritionists". The New York Times.
- ↑ Lee, Sophia (22 March 2024). "How Levels Health is Revolutionizing The Way People Approach Their Metabolic Health". Rupa Health. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ↑ Stone, Will. "In 'Good Energy,' a doctor lays out how to measure and boost your metabolic health". NPR. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ↑ "Contact". Casey Means MD. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ↑ "License Verification Details- Casey Means". Oregon Medical Board. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ↑ Diamond, Dan; Roubein, Rachel; Weber, Lauren. "Trump, RFK Jr. vow to 'Make America Healthy Again,' raising hopes and doubts". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ↑ Held, Lisa. "Can Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. 'Make America Healthy Again'?". Civil Eats. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ↑ Whyte, Liz Essley; Peterson, Kristina; Andrews, Natalie. "Trump Adopts RFK Jr.'s War on Junk Food to Win Over His Fans". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ↑ Cancryn, Adam; Lim, David (November 19, 2024). "Trump transition closes in on picks for top health posts". Politico. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ↑ "Trump taps wellness influencer Casey Means for surgeon general". Al Jazeera. May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ↑ Venugopal Ramaswamy, Swapna (May 7, 2025). "Trump changes mind on surgeon general pick, tapping wellness influencer close to RFK Jr". USA Today. Retrieved May 7, 2025.