1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I urge you to vote against confirming Dr. Casey Means as surgeon general. This position leads over 6,000 members of the U.S. Public Health Service and issues critical public health advisories to Americans. The nominee lacks the qualifications and credibility necessary for this vital role. Dr. Georges Benjamin, CEO of the American Public Health Association, stated plainly that Dr. Means "is less qualified professionally than any other surgeon general in history." She dropped out of surgical training before becoming a head and neck surgeon, stopped seeing patients years ago, and does not currently hold an active medical license. She has no plans to reactivate her license if confirmed. Her public profile comes primarily from her book "Good Energy" and podcast appearances, not from sustained clinical practice or public health leadership. During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Dr. Means refused to encourage mothers to vaccinate their children against measles and flu when questioned by Senator Bill Cassidy. While she stated vaccines save lives, she told Senator Bernie Sanders that "science has never settled" when asked about the debunked autism-vaccine link. This equivocation on settled science is dangerous when measles outbreaks are preventable through vaccination. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut raised serious concerns about a pending FTC complaint alleging Dr. Means violated rules by failing to disclose financial relationships to products she promoted as a medical professional. He characterized the pattern as "systemic," noting that "in the majority of instances in which you were, as a medical professional, recommending a product, you were hiding the fact that you had a financial partnership." Dr. Means runs a company called Levels that promotes continuous glucose monitors and sells supplements and wellness products. Americans deserve a surgeon general with impeccable qualifications, active clinical experience, and unwavering commitment to evidence-based medicine. Dr. Means does not meet this standard. I ask you to oppose her confirmation.