Haridopolos to assume surgeon general duties temporarily
Stephanie Haridopolos will assume some surgeon general duties while radiologist Nicole Saphier awaits Senate confirmation.
HHS official Stephanie Haridopolos, MD, will temporarily assume some U.S. surgeon general duties while Nicole Saphier, MD, awaits Senate confirmation, according to reports citing HHS.
Haridopolos is listed by HHS as principal deputy assistant secretary for health and director of national health communications in the Office of the Surgeon General. The HHS leadership page was last reviewed May 20.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson told The National News Desk that Assistant Secretary for Health Brian Christine, MD, is using delegated authority to allow Haridopolos to carry out many surgeon general duties until the next surgeon general is sworn in.
President Trump sent Saphier’s nomination to the Senate on May 11. The White House listed her nomination as medical director in the regular corps of the Public Health Service and surgeon general of the Public Health Service for a 4-year term.
Senate HELP Committee records list Saphier’s nomination as PN963-119. The nomination was received May 11 and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
ACR congratulated Saphier on the nomination April 30 and said she would be the first radiologist physician to hold the surgeon general position if confirmed.
The White House also withdrew Casey Means’ nomination for surgeon general on May 11. The withdrawal was listed in the same White House notice sent to the Senate.
As of the latest HELP Committee listing, Saphier’s nomination had been referred to committee and had not advanced to confirmation.
About the author
RadiologySignal.com writersEditorial Team
Radiology Signal Staff covers developments across medical imaging, radiology AI, imaging informatics, clinical research, and radiology business. The team monitors primary sources, peer-reviewed studies, company announcements, society updates, and healthcare industry news to deliver concise reporting for imaging professionals.
More from this section
MOC-linked radiation oncology care associated with lower Medicare costs
A retrospective Medicare Part B analysis found that radiation oncologists voluntarily participating in ABR maintenance of certification used more advanced techniques and had 10.31% lower Medicare costs per treatment course.
Senators reintroduce MARCA radiologist assistant reimbursement bill
The Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act would allow radiologists to submit Medicare claims for nondiagnostic services performed by radiologist assistants under direct supervision in hospital and office settings.
House committee advances Medicare physician payment reform bill
The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026 would limit annual Medicare conversion-factor changes to ±2.5% and raise the budget-neutrality threshold.