White House withdraws Surgeon General pick over foreign medical school controversy
The White House is understood to have made the decision to withdraw Dr Janette Nesheiwat's nomination to be United States Surgeon General, the second time one of President Donald Trump 's top health care policy picks has faltered before being considered by the U.S. Senate.
The decision, which was first reported by Bloomberg News, comes just days before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee had been scheduled to hold a hearing on her nomination.
Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor who is also the sister-in-law of former Trump White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, had been selected to be one of the country's top public health official largely on the strength of her record as a television personality.
But as her confirmation hearing approached, Nesheiwat had become a magnet for controversy after a CBS News report called into question whether she'd been forthright about her education and background.
Last month, the television network reported that Nesheiwat had listed herself on LinkedIn as a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, the institution where she completed her medical residency.
The board-certified physician actually attended and earned her doctoral degree from American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine, which is located on the Caribbean island of St Maarten.
It's not uncommon for Americans to attend medical schools in the Caribbean, as those schools are known as having slightly more relaxed admissions standards than schools in the United States.
But those schools still teach a standard medical curriculum and award a Doctor of Medicine degree. At AUC, students complete a four-year program of two years in a classroom and an additional two years in clinical rotations at a licensed medical facility. CBS News reported Nesheiwat was enrolled there for six years, from 2000 to 2006.
Completing one's medical education after studying abroad also requires passing the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination administered by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Passing the USMLE is also required for aspiring physicians to be eligible for residency programs at American hospitals, the final step in education before being permitted to practice medicine.
It's at the University of Arkansas where Nesheiwat completed her medical education with a multi-year residency.
Jerome Adams, the former Surgeon General who served in that role during the first Trump administration, wrote on X that he did not know what was 'more troubling' to him, the possibility that 'stigma against foreign medical graduates' would have led to Nesheiwat's nomination being withdrawn, or the possibility that it would have been due to her support for vaccines.
'The FMG talk is ill informed and troubling. Much of our U.S. medical care (esp rural) depends on foreign grads. And Dr. N completed a U.S. residency (which is where you really learn how to practice medicine anyway). Hoping this doesn't stigmatize docs who trained outside U.S.,' he added.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Can I donate blood and how do I do it? Urgent call for donors amid low stocks
The NHS needs 200,000 more regular blood donors to sustain a safe and sufficient supply. Low blood stocks in 2024 prompted an "amber alert', but blood stocks have remained low ever since. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is now urging more people to donate to avoid a "red alert", which is a critical situation where public safety is threatened. It described the past year as "challenging" for blood stocks, noting that just under 800,000 people are supporting the entire blood supply in England. How do I donate blood? The whole process of giving blood takes just one hour. When arriving at a blood donation centre, you are asked to complete a safety check to make sure you can give blood. You will be given 500ml of fluid to drink – drinking this will help the body maintain blood pressure, prevent dizziness and help the body replenish the donated blood. Then, to ensure it is safe to donate blood, medics will confirm your identity and information in your health check. In some cases, a registered nurse will follow up. A drop of blood from your finger is then checked for iron levels. If these levels are too low, the appointment will be rescheduled. Those able to donate will be seated in the waiting area before being called to a donation chair. Here, a cuff will be placed on your arm to maintain a small amount of pressure during the donation before a suitable vein is found and the area is cleaned. Then, a needle will be inserted into your arm to collect your blood into a blood bag, which has your unique donor number on it. A scale weighs the blood and stops when you have donated 470ml - that's just under a pint. The needle is then removed from your arm, and a dressing is applied. The NHS says the process of giving blood should not hurt and should only take about 10 minutes. Who can donate blood? Although more donors are needed, there are some health, travel and lifestyle reasons that may stop you from donating blood. Donors need to be fit and well, aged between 17 and 65, weigh between 7 stone 12 Ibs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg) and have suitable veins. However, you can't donate blood if you have cancer, some heart conditions, have tested positive for HIV or are a hepatitis B or C carrier. If you have received blood platelets, plasma or any other blood products after January 1980, or if you have injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents, you also cannot donate. If you've had anal sex with a new partner in the last three months you may have to postpone your donation. If you feel unwell, are pregnant or have had a baby in the last six months, have had a tattoo or piercing, or have recently travelled to certain countries outside the UK, you may also have to wait before you can donate blood. Where can I donate blood? There are thousands of blood donation venues across England, some are permanent and others are pop-ups. Church halls, sports centres, mosques, football stadiums and hotels are all used as pop-up venues. To check where your closest one is, visit the Give Blood website. What type of blood is needed? There is a 'critical' need for more donors who have the so-called universal blood type, O negative blood, which is needed for treatment in emergencies. The NHS said there is also a need for more Black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types which can help treat people with sickle cell disease.
The Independent
44 minutes ago
- The Independent
NHS facing first-ever blood supply ‘red alert'
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is urging 200,000 more people to become regular blood donors to maintain a safe national blood supply. Low blood stocks in 2024 triggered an " amber alert" following a cyber attack on London hospitals, and officials are trying to avoid a "red alert". Only 2 per cent of the population, just under 800,000 people, currently supports the entire blood supply in England, while NHSBT says one million regular donors are needed. There is a critical need for more donors with O negative blood (the universal blood type) and more Black donors to help treat sickle cell disease. Isaac Balmer, a four-year-old with a genetic blood condition, receives blood transfusions every 12 weeks, highlighting the importance of regular blood donations.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The truth about 'Sephora kids' taking over TikTok: Children as young as 7 are using dozens of products on their faces - putting them at risk of lifelong skin allergies
The 'get ready with me' video is one of the most popular formats for TikTok influencers to show off their elaborate beauty regimes. Children dubbed 'Sephora kids' are getting involved in the trend, with terrifying consequences. Scientists from Northwestern University found that children as young as seven are using over a dozen products on their skin every day. These expensive routines are putting children at risk of skin irritation, sun sensitivity, and developing lifelong skin allergies. By creating dummy accounts posing as 13-year-olds the researchers collected 100 videos from the TikTok 'For You Page'. On average, girls aged between seven and 18 used six different skin care products in their routines, with some using far more. The survey also revealed the vast sums of money that youngsters are willing to spend on products. Teenagers' routines cost an average of $168 (£124) with some girls using products that cost over $500 (£370) in total. Searching for 'skin care' or 'skin care routine' on TikTok will return thousands of videos, many of which have hundreds of thousands or even millions of likes. These videos largely feature young women showing their complicated, multi-step skincare routines. For example, one video with over 4.1 million likes recommends a routine of six different treatments including Vitamin C cream, hyaluronic acid, and 'chemical exfoliants'. Yet the study found that many younger users on the app were showcasing routines with even more steps. While these routines promised to deliver 'glassy' or 'glowy' skin, the researchers found that they actually put teenagers at high risk of skin irritation. The top-viewed videos analysed by the researchers contained an average of 11 potentially irritating ingredients. Corresponding author Dr Molly Hales, a dermatologist at Northwestern University, says: 'That high risk of irritation came from both using multiple active ingredients at the same time, such as hydroxy acids. Those ingredients could trigger an allergic condition called contact dermatitis which can limit the kinds of soaps and shampoos that people can use for the rest of their lives. Dr Hales adds that there was also a risk from 'applying the same active ingredient unknowingly over and over again when that active ingredient was found in three, four, five different products.' However, the video creators appeared either unaware of the risks or unconcerned by the potential negative impacts. For example, in one video a young social media user applied 10 different products to her face in six minutes. Senior author Dr Tara Lagu, a pharmacist and health services researcher from Northwestern University, says: 'As she's applying the products, she begins to express discomfort and burning, and in the final few minutes, she develops a visible skin reaction.' In another post, a 'teenage girl in braces' smeared 14 products on her face while instructing her viewers on the proper methods of application. By the end of the video, the girl's face becomes visibly inflamed and red as she says: 'This is what my skin looks like. It is very glowy right now, I love it! But also, I just had some allergic reaction to something that I tried, so ignore how red my face is. 'I don't know what's happening. But if anybody knows how to get it to stop burning, that would be greatly appreciated, because it actually hurts a lot.' Additionally, the researchers found that the advice in these videos offered 'little to no benefit' to their intended audience. Researchers warn that using so many products risks causing skin irritation and developing skin allergies which can affect people for the rest of their lives For example, each of the top 25 most-viewed videos used an average of three products containing natural exfoliants called Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). While these can be used to treat acne, only eight of the 82 content creators had any visible blemishes. In these cases, the risk of developing contact dermatitis 'almost certainly' outweighs any potential benefits. In fact, only 26 per cent of the routines shown included suncream - which dermatologists say is the most useful part of any skin care routine and is especially important for children. Beyond simply giving bad skin care advice, the researchers also cautioned that these videos could be 'problematic' in other ways. Analysis of the videos showed a strong emphasis on lighter, brighter skin which could reinforce unattainable beauty standards. In the paper, published in Pediatrics, the researchers note that the videos encourage girls to pursue these goals under the guise of 'self-care'. Girls are shown waking up as early as 04:30 am in order to fit in an elaborate skin care and makeup routine before school. Dr Hales says: 'The insidious thing about 'skin care' is that it claims to be about health. 'It's problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin. We're setting a very high standard for these girls. 'The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of "health" is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness and whiteness.' METHODS FOR PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE Children as young as two are using social media, research from charity Barnardo's has suggested. Internet companies are being pushed to do more to combat harmful content online but parents can also take steps to alter how their children use the web. Here are some suggestions of how parents can help their children. Both iOS and Google offer features that enable parents to filter content and set time limits on apps. For iOS devices, such as an iPhone or iPad, you can make use of the Screen Time feature to block certain apps, content types or functions. On iOS, this can be done by going to settings and selecting Screen Time. For Android, you can install the Family Link app from the Google Play Store. Talk to your children Many charities, including the NSPCC, say talking to children about their online activity is vital to keep them safe. Its website features a number of tips on how to start a conversation with children about using social media and the wider internet, including having parents visit sites with their children to learn about them together and discussing how to stay safe online and act responsibly. There are tools available for parents to learn more about how social media platforms operate. Net Aware, a website run in partnership by the NSPCC and O2, offers information about social media sites, including age requirement guidance. The World Health Organisation recommends parents should limit young children to 60 minutes of screen time every day. The guidelines, published in April, suggest children aged between two and five are restricted to an hour of daily sedentary screen time.
