President Donald Trump announced Dr. Nicole Saphier as his new nominee for surgeon general on Thursday, ending months of uncertainty over the Senate confirmation of his previous choice, Dr. Casey Means. Trump withdrew Means' nomination earlier this week after it faced significant opposition.
Who is Dr. Nicole Saphier?
Dr. Nicole Saphier is a board-certified radiologist and an associate professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College. She serves as director of breast imaging at MSK's Monmouth, New Jersey facility. Saphier has been a prominent media personality since 2018, acting as a medical expert for Fox News and hosting the iHeart Radio podcast Wellness Unmasked with Dr. Nicole Saphier.
She is also a New York Times bestselling author, having written several books including Love, Mom, Make America Healthy Again, and Panic Attack: Playing Politics with Science in the Fight Against COVID-19. Her work focuses on simplifying complex health issues for the public.
Trump's Praise
Trump took to Truth Social to praise Saphier, calling her a "STAR physician" for her dedication to guiding women through breast cancer and an "INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR" for her ability to break down complicated medical topics. He expressed confidence in her ability to lead the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
The nomination comes after Trump pulled the nomination of Dr. Casey Means, a vaccine skeptic, who had faced a tough confirmation battle. Saphier, like Means, has a background in media, particularly with Fox News, and is expected to advance Trump's health agenda.
