Latest news with #U.S.PublicHealthServiceCommissionedCorps
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump's former surgeon general calls for maintaining qualifications current nominee doesn't have
President Trump's former surgeon general, Jerome Adams, said this week that failure to maintain certain requirements for the role he once occupied would compromise the 'mission and credibility' of the federal public health service. Trump's current nominee for the role, Casey Means, graduated from medical school but did not complete her residency, meaning she is not a practicing physician, a distinction that historically has been a prerequisite for the role. Means and her defenders, including Kennedy, say she left the formal health care system because it was not making people healthier, and she and her brother have carved out a popular lane as influencers and authors aligned with the 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda. Without naming any names, Adams stated in a lengthy post on the social platform X that his thoughts were in 'no way a personal criticism of any candidate, but a clarification for the sake of the integrity of the [U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC)] that I was blessed and honored to lead.' 'Physician requirements include a medical degree (e.g., MD or DO), a residency, and a valid medical license,' Adams wrote. 'This is analogous to how an Army General must meet the minimum qualifications to serve in the military before being promoted to lead other troops who are held to those same standards.' When Trump announced he was replacing Janette Nesheiwat with Means to be his pick for surgeon general, critics from within MAGA and the Make America Healthy Again movement spoke out against her. Adams noted at the time that surgeon general nominees historically have been required to be licensed physicians. Critics of Means, who graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine, have latched on to her decision not to complete her residency program. According to former colleagues of Means, she left a five-year residency program at the Oregon Health and Science University after 4 1/2 years due to anxiety and feeling she wanted to do something different. Means is co-founder of Levels, a health technology company that focuses on tracking health information through medical devices. Adams served as surgeon general during Trump's first term and is presidential fellow and the executive director of the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning at Purdue University. He acknowledged that appointing nonphysicians is not explicitly prohibited by law but said the requirements of leading the PHSCC would make having a medical license 'indispensable.' Adams gave the example of the Air Force chief of staff not being legally required to have completed flight training or licensure, but noted those credentials are strongly implied by the responsibilities of the role. 'The Surgeon General's position as a trusted public health authority and physician makes full training and licensure a critical expectation in addition to an implicit legal requirement,' Adams wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Trump's ex-surgeon general suggests new nominee Casey Means lacks needed qualifications
Trump's ex-surgeon general suggests new nominee Casey Means lacks needed qualifications Trump's former surgeon general says holding a medical license is essential for the position. Trump nominee Casey Means doesn't have one. Show Caption Hide Caption Trump selects influencer Doctor Casey Means as Surgeon General US President Donald Trump has selected health entrepreneur and wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means as the US Surgeon General. unbranded - Newsworthy Means is not a practicing physician and does not have an active medical license. Adams pointed to the surgeon general's legal obligation to serve as vice admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps WASHINGTON ― Dr. Jerome Adams, the former U.S. surgeon general during President Donald Trump's first term, called into question the qualifications of Trump's new nominee for the post, Casey Means, as he argued the surgeon general must hold a medical license to carry out the job's duties. Means is not a practicing physician and does not have an active medical license. Without mentioning Means by name, Adams outlined his position in a May 22 post on X. Adams acknowledged that no explicit federal law mandates the surgeon general be a licensed physician. But he pointed to the surgeon general's legal obligation to serve as vice admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed service of health professionals for the federal government. To be commissioned as an officer in the PHSCC, a physician must hold a current valid medical medical license in addition to completing one year of a medical residency or another accredited postgraduate medical program. Adams said the PHSCC qualifications are "implicitly (and legally) essential" to serve as surgeon general. Since Trump nominated Means ‒ a 37-year-old Stanford University-educated wellness influencer ‒ as surgeon general on May 7, she has drawn scrutiny for her lack of medical license. Means' Oregon medical license expired in 2019 and was moved to inactive in January 2024. More: Who is Casey Means? Trump's new surgeon general nominee sparks drama Means also dropped out of a five-year medical residency program as an otolaryngologist at Oregon Health & Science University months before completing it. Yet she appears to still satisfy the PHSCC's requirement that physicians have one year of postgraduation education. "The Surgeon General's position as a trusted public health authority and physician makes full training and licensure a critical expectation in addition to an implicit legal requirement," Adams wrote. More: President Trump changes his mind on nomination for surgeon general He compared the credentials to an Army general meeting "the minimum qualifications to serve in the military" before being promoted to lead other troops held to the same standards. "This is in no way a personal criticism of any candidate, but a clarification for the sake of the integrity of the PHSCC that I was blessed and honored to lead," he added. "Failure to maintain these requirements not only compromises the mission and credibility of the service, but opens the PHS and HHS to lawsuits from others denied a commission or promotion, or terminated due to failure to meet these legal standards." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump tapped Means after withdrawing his first pick for the role, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a Fox News medical contributor. Means, a close ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is an advocate for metabolic health and preventing chronic disease, who has a large social media following. Trump has lauded Means for having "impeccable 'MAHA' credentials," referring to Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again movement. But Means has attracted scrutiny from health professionals over her background and the ire from some on the far-right including activist Laura Loomer, an influential voice for Trump. Loomer has criticized Means' lack of medical license and accused her of having a "history being a Marxist tree hugger." Adams, an anesthesiologist and former state health commissioner of Indiana, served as Trump's only surgeon general during his first term, from 2017 to 2021. After leaving the White House, Adams joined Purdue University as executive director of the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion - I was surgeon general — Trump's nominee is not fit for my old job
Americans deserve a surgeon general with the highest level of expertise and a proven record in public health — not a symbolic figurehead or media influencer. President Trump's current nominee, Dr. Casey Means, holds a medical degree from a respected institution, but her professional qualifications raise significant concerns. She is not board certified, does not hold an active state medical license, never completed a medical residency and lacks substantial experience in clinical practice, public health, policy and scalable leadership. By law, the surgeon general must be a commissioned officer with significant training or experience in public health. Historically, this has meant licensed physicians with deep clinical, scientific and operational credentials — individuals who have led through complex crises and earned the trust of both the public and the uniformed services. To lower that bar is to undermine the office. The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is one of eight uniformed services in our nation. It is charged with protecting the health and safety of all Americans. The surgeon general serves as its operational and symbolic leader. That person must be capable of directing public health efforts across agencies, advising Congress on critical issues and working alongside military and civilian leaders on matters of national importance. Public health crises are rarely simple. From pandemics to natural disasters, bioterrorism to chronic disease, the person occupying this office must be fully prepared to lead under pressure. Leadership in the Public Health Service must remain merit-based and above politics. Appointing a nominee who lacks the credentials expected of even entry-level officers in the corps threatens the credibility of this proud institution. During my tenure as surgeon general, I was tasked with responding to a range of complex emergencies: coordinating U.S. efforts after the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, leading public health operations during Hurricane Katrina and participating in the rollout of the Human Genome Project. I was frequently called on to address urgent public health issues, including vaccine policy, abortion access, pharmaceutical ethics and combat casualty care. Each of these responsibilities required deep clinical expertise, global collaboration, operational leadership and a commitment to scientific integrity. These were not ceremonial roles — they were real-time, high-stakes leadership demands. Public health is a national security imperative. We must treat it that way. History teaches us that the most impactful surgeons general have been those who brought courage, competence and scientific clarity to the nation's most difficult conversations. Dr. C. Everett Koop took a stand against tobacco and led a science-driven national education effort on AIDS. Dr. David Satcher confronted addiction and health disparities at a time of political polarization. They didn't just hold office — they led with authority earned through decades of experience. This legacy should not be diminished by placing symbolism or politics above readiness and expertise. The surgeon general is not just an advisor but a field-tested leader who must command respect, coordinate with other uniformed services and represent the nation on the global public health stage. We owe it to the American people — and to those who built the Public Health Service on a tradition of merit and mission — to demand the very best. The U.S. Public Health Service traces its roots to the birth of our nation, when President John Adams signed legislation in 1798 to care for sick and injured seamen. Since then, the service has remained a meritocracy grounded in competence and readiness — like all our uniformed services. Our health, our security and our future depend on it. Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., was the 17th U.S. surgeon general. He is Laureate Professor of Public Health at the University of Arizona. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Hill
I was surgeon general — Trump's nominee is not fit for my old job
Americans deserve a surgeon general with the highest level of expertise and a proven record in public health — not a symbolic figurehead or media influencer. President Trump's current nominee, Dr. Casey Means, holds a medical degree from a respected institution, but her professional qualifications raise significant concerns. She is not board certified, does not hold an active state medical license, never completed a medical residency and lacks substantial experience in clinical practice, public health, policy and scalable leadership. By law, the surgeon general must be a commissioned officer with significant training or experience in public health. Historically, this has meant licensed physicians with deep clinical, scientific and operational credentials — individuals who have led through complex crises and earned the trust of both the public and the uniformed services. To lower that bar is to undermine the office. The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is one of eight uniformed services in our nation. It is charged with protecting the health and safety of all Americans. The surgeon general serves as its operational and symbolic leader. That person must be capable of directing public health efforts across agencies, advising Congress on critical issues and working alongside military and civilian leaders on matters of national importance. Public health crises are rarely simple. From pandemics to natural disasters, bioterrorism to chronic disease, the person occupying this office must be fully prepared to lead under pressure. Leadership in the Public Health Service must remain merit-based and above politics. Appointing a nominee who lacks the credentials expected of even entry-level officers in the corps threatens the credibility of this proud institution. During my tenure as surgeon general, I was tasked with responding to a range of complex emergencies: coordinating U.S. efforts after the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, leading public health operations during Hurricane Katrina and participating in the rollout of the Human Genome Project. I was frequently called on to address urgent public health issues, including vaccine policy, abortion access, pharmaceutical ethics and combat casualty care. Each of these responsibilities required deep clinical expertise, global collaboration, operational leadership and a commitment to scientific integrity. These were not ceremonial roles — they were real-time, high-stakes leadership demands. Public health is a national security imperative. We must treat it that way. History teaches us that the most impactful surgeons general have been those who brought courage, competence and scientific clarity to the nation's most difficult conversations. Dr. C. Everett Koop took a stand against tobacco and led a science-driven national education effort on AIDS. Dr. David Satcher confronted addiction and health disparities at a time of political polarization. They didn't just hold office — they led with authority earned through decades of experience. This legacy should not be diminished by placing symbolism or politics above readiness and expertise. The surgeon general is not just an advisor but a field-tested leader who must command respect, coordinate with other uniformed services and represent the nation on the global public health stage. We owe it to the American people — and to those who built the Public Health Service on a tradition of merit and mission — to demand the very best. The U.S. Public Health Service traces its roots to the birth of our nation, when President John Adams signed legislation in 1798 to care for sick and injured seamen. Since then, the service has remained a meritocracy grounded in competence and readiness — like all our uniformed services. Our health, our security and our future depend on it. Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., was the 17th U.S. surgeon general. He is Laureate Professor of Public Health at the University of Arizona.
