In a move that has stirred both applause and skepticism, former President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Dr. Casey Means as the next Surgeon General of the United States. The announcement, made on May 7, 2025, quickly became a flashpoint in the national discourse surrounding health, politics, and the future of American medicine. With a background steeped in holistic health, functional medicine, and Silicon Valley innovation, Dr. Means represents a departure from traditional Surgeon General candidates.
This blog post delves deeply into who Dr. Casey Means is, why her nomination is both celebrated and contested, what it could mean for the future of healthcare policy in the U.S., and how the decision aligns with the evolving political and cultural narratives around health in America.
1. Who Is Dr. Casey Means?
Early Life and Family Background
Dr. Casey Means was born on September 24, 1987, into a family familiar with American politics and public service. Her father, Grady Means, worked closely with Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and was deeply involved in shaping policy around health and human welfare. This legacy of policy and service seemingly foreshadowed her own journey into health and reform advocacy.
Education and Medical Training
Dr. Casey Means pursued both her undergraduate and medical education at Stanford University, graduating from Stanford School of Medicine in 2014. She started a surgical residency at Oregon Health and Science University but left in 2017, disillusioned with conventional medicine. According to her own accounts, she believed that the current medical system treated symptoms rather than root causes and prioritized pharmaceutical interventions over preventive care.
2. The Pivot to Functional and Holistic Medicine
Founding a New Model of Care
After leaving her surgical residency, Dr. Means launched a private practice focused on functional medicine, emphasizing nutrition, metabolic health, and holistic care. She criticized mainstream medicine for neglecting lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, stress, and exercise all of which she sees as foundational to well-being.
Her unconventional approach quickly found traction with a growing audience disillusioned by over-medicalization and side-effect-heavy treatments. However, it also drew criticism from established medical voices who raised questions about scientific rigor and evidence-based validation.
Inactive Medical License
In a striking twist, Dr. Casey Means currently holds an inactive medical license. The decision, which came in January 2024, was reportedly voluntary, but it has raised red flags among traditional healthcare professionals. Critics argue that it’s unprecedented for a Surgeon General nominee not to be actively practicing medicine, while supporters suggest it emphasizes her role as a reformer rather than a practitioner.
3. Entrepreneurial Venture: Co-Founding Levels
In 2019, Dr. Casey Means co-founded Levels, a health-tech company offering continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and a smartphone app to help users optimize their metabolic health. The company aims to empower individuals to understand how their diet and lifestyle choices impact their blood sugar levels in real-time.
Levels has been featured in numerous health and wellness outlets and is popular among athletes, Silicon Valley executives, and biohackers. Means leveraged this platform to advocate for lifestyle-based preventive care, making her an influential figure in the growing intersection between tech and wellness.
4. The MAHA Movement and Collaboration with RFK Jr.
Dr. Casey Means and her brother, Calley Means, became vocal supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who currently serves as Health and Human Services Secretary in Trump’s 2025 campaign. The initiative focuses on reducing chronic diseases by addressing the root causes primarily through diet, environment, and personal behavior.
The Means siblings gained significant traction as MAHA thought leaders. Their ideas include:
- Reforming agricultural subsidies that prioritize processed foods
- Removing harmful chemicals from the food system
- Investing in preventive medicine and lifestyle education
- Challenging pharmaceutical dominance in public health policy
5. Author, Speaker, and Wellness Influencer
Dr. Casey Means’ voice has resonated far beyond her medical career. She co-authored the best-selling book Good Energy with her brother, which outlines a new vision for American health rooted in natural interventions and systemic reform. The book critiques the financial and structural incentives behind the healthcare-industrial complex.
In recent years, she has appeared on several prominent platforms, including:
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- The Huberman Lab Podcast
- Tucker Carlson Today
- Ben Greenfield Fitness Podcast
These appearances amplified her message and gave her access to millions of listeners skeptical of traditional health narratives.
6. Trump’s Nomination Announcement
Donald Trump announced Dr. Casey Means’ nomination as Surgeon General during a campaign rally, stating:
“Dr. Casey Means has impeccable MAHA credentials. She has the vision, knowledge, and courage to make America healthy again. We believe she will be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in U.S. history.”
The announcement followed the withdrawal of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, whose nomination faced backlash due to her prior support for vaccine mandates and lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump’s strategic pivot to a MAHA-aligned candidate appears to be a calculated attempt to consolidate support from health freedom activists, vaccine skeptics, and holistic health advocates.
7. Reactions from the Medical Community
Supporters
Supporters argue that Dr. Casey Means brings a fresh perspective to a stagnant system. They praise her:
- Advocacy for preventive medicine
- Ability to communicate complex health issues in simple terms
- Courage to challenge the pharmaceutical industry
- Emphasis on metabolic health and food-based healing
Critics
Mainstream medical experts, including those affiliated with the American Medical Association and various public health departments, have expressed concerns, citing:
- Her lack of an active medical license
- Potential conflicts of interest due to business ties
- Non-evidence-based approaches to treatment
- Misalignment with long-standing public health policies, especially regarding vaccines
8. Public and Political Fallout
Vaccine Views Under Scrutiny
Means and her brother have expressed views on vaccine safety that diverge from conventional medical opinion. They have called for more research transparency and are sympathetic to removing liability protections from vaccine manufacturers positions that have made her a hero in some circles and a liability in others.
Political Alignment
Her nomination also speaks to a broader culture war about health freedom, individual responsibility, and distrust in institutions. Trump’s base, which includes many vaccine-hesitant voters and alternative health proponents, has largely welcomed the nomination.
Progressive groups and science-focused organizations, however, warn that the appointment could jeopardize hard-won public health gains, especially among vulnerable populations.
9. The Role of Surgeon General: A Brief Overview
The Surgeon General is the nation’s chief public health spokesperson and oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. While the position does not directly create policy, the Surgeon General has significant influence through public awareness campaigns, advisory reports, and emergency health guidance.
If confirmed, Dr. Casey Means would shape the national dialogue on topics like:
- Chronic disease prevention
- Nutrition and fitness
- Environmental health
- Vaccine education
- Mental well-being
10. What This Nomination Could Mean for America’s Health Future
Potential Reforms
Dr. Means could:
- Revamp national dietary guidelines
- Launch campaigns promoting metabolic health
- Advocate for insurance reforms that cover lifestyle-based treatments
- Push for regulatory changes in food and agriculture sectors
Risks and Challenges
However, she also faces major challenges:
- Resistance from entrenched interests in the pharmaceutical and insurance sectors
- Pushback from mainstream medical and scientific communities
- Legal hurdles around promoting non-FDA-approved treatments
- Managing a politically divided public health system
11. Can a Surgeon General Without an Active License Lead the Nation?
This question remains central to the debate. Historically, U.S. Surgeons General have been active medical professionals. Critics argue that Dr. Means’ inactive status undermines the credibility of the office. Supporters counter that her role is more advisory and visionary than clinical and that fresh perspectives are necessary to move the country forward.
12. A Defining Health Moment for the Nation
Dr. Casey Means’ nomination is emblematic of a broader transformation in American health discourse. With increasing numbers of citizens turning to holistic therapies, biohacking, and alternative treatments, her appointment may signal the start of a new era one that seeks to integrate wellness into mainstream policy.
Whether that integration succeeds or leads to further polarization depends not only on her confirmation but also on how she communicates, collaborates, and navigates the deeply divided health landscape of 2025.
