Surgeon general nominee and ally of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., moves to Senate confirmation

"Means is a popular wellness influencer allied with Department of Health and Human Services chief Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. She has argued that many diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's, originate from poor diet, sleeplessness and a lack of exercise—all of which, she has said, ultimately affect cellular function under a mitochondrial dysfunction theory of disease."

"The surgeon general is also head of a uniformed public health corps whose members serve in agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

"She is expected to face questions about financial conflicts of interest over ties to companies that sell nutritional supplements and her role in the functional medicine company she co-founded, Levels, which markets glucose monitors to healthy people."

Casey Means, a 38-year-old wellness influencer and alternative medicine advocate, is undergoing Senate confirmation for the position of U.S. surgeon general. President Trump nominated her in May 2025 after withdrawing his initial nomination of Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat, whose medical credentials and military service were questioned. Means left her medical residency to pursue alternative medicine and is known for promoting the theory that diseases like diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's stem from poor diet, insufficient sleep, and lack of exercise, attributing these to mitochondrial dysfunction. She co-founded Levels, a company marketing glucose monitors to healthy individuals, and maintains ties to nutritional supplement companies. Her confirmation hearing will likely address potential financial conflicts of interest and her association with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services chief.

Read at www.scientificamerican.com