Casey Means, MD, President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Surgeon General testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on February 25.
Senators of both parties pressed Dr. Means on her views regarding vaccines, including Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), a hepatologist, who asked Dr. Means whether she believed there is a need for universal hepatitis B immunization. Dr. Means leaned into the position of respecting parent autonomy when making decisions about vaccines, and only when pressed by Sen. Cassidy did she say that immunizing for hepatitis B at “some point in childhood” is a “worthy goal.”
Dr. Means, a Stanford University School of Medicine graduate, does not hold an active medical license and did not complete her surgical residency training. The Surgeon General oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, which requires members to have active licenses to practice in their profession. In response to questioning from Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ), Dr. Means said she does not plan to reactivate her license. During the hearing Sen. Roger Marshall, MD (R-KS) submitted for the hearing record a statement from Stanford “supporting” Dr. Means’ nomination. A statement from Stanford posted online states the institution is “proud” Dr. Means has been nominated.
According to news reports, Dr. Means still does not have votes for confirmation. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who both sit on the HELP Committee, have said they have not decided how they’ll vote.
Listen to the hearing here.