Dr. Nicole Saphier has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the U.S. surgeon general, taking over from the previously nominated Dr. Casey Means. Saphier's nomination comes after a turbulent campaign for Means, who was unable to secure enough votes to advance from a Senate committee due to scrutiny over her qualifications and vaccination views.
Dr. Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News Channel contributor, has been an advocate for several initiatives under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. Her advocacy includes addressing food additives, reducing the intake of ultraprocessed foods, and promoting exercise. In contrast to Kennedy, Saphier is a staunch proponent of vaccinations, occasionally criticizing the Trump administration's approach to health issues as "embarrassing."
If confirmed, Saphier will have the authority to issue public health advisories and will be expected to champion vaccination issues, though the surgeon general's office does not dictate vaccine policy. Dr. Means, who holds an education from Stanford and was involved with the MAHA movement, described her failed nomination as the result of a "yearlong smear campaign."
Saphier is currently the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth and holds a medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados, along with fellowships at the esteemed Mayo Clinic. Her candidacy has received support from various medical institutions, including the American College of Radiology, where the president praised her as a "tireless advocate for women's health." Kennedy himself has highlighted her expertise with breast cancer patients and early detection efforts as essential in addressing the chronic disease epidemic.
In addition to her medical career, Saphier has also been involved in the wellness industry, launching a line of herbal supplements called Drop Rx, and hosting a podcast titled "Wellness Unmasked with Dr. Nicole Saphier." Remarkably, she coined the phrase "Make America Healthy Again" years before it was popularized by Kennedy, using it as the title for her 2020 book, which criticized the government's healthcare policies and the Affordable Care Act.
Saphier, a mother of three boys, often discusses her personal experiences, including her unexpected pregnancy at age 17, advocating for increased support for mothers facing similar situations. While assertive in putting forth her views, she has shown a willingness to question certain elements of the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, including the universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, which aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to modify vaccine recommendations.
On her podcast, Saphier has criticized COVID-19 vaccination mandates in schools, labeling them "a complete disaster" that has contributed to declining trust in vaccination. Despite her support for immunization, she emphasizes that patients should have the autonomy to make their own medical choices. She commended Dr. Jay Bhattacharya for advocating that Americans get vaccinated against measles, emphasizing the importance of reducing vaccine confusion to prevent outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Although supportive of the administration, Saphier has publicly critiqued various health missteps, including the flawed first MAHA report, which cited nonexistent studies and was described by her as "embarrassing." She expressed disappointment with the administration’s management of trust-building efforts in health communication, especially following the firing of the first CDC director, Susan Monarez, after just a month in her role.
Despite her connections to the MAHA movement, some among its followers have questioned her commitment to its core principles. Notably, podcaster Alex Clark rated Saphier negatively regarding MAHA-related matters. Saphier's path to confirmation as surgeon general remains uncertain, amid ongoing debate about her positions and qualifications.
