Opposition grows against radiologist surgeon general nominee

Opposition is emerging against Nicole B. Saphier, MD, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. surgeon general, after her selection replaced an earlier nominee more closely associated with the Make America Healthy Again movement.

Trump named Saphier as his new surgeon general pick on April 30 after withdrawing the nomination of Casey Means, MD, according to the Associated Press. Saphier is a radiologist and former Fox News contributor who serves as director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in Middletown, NJ, according to the American Hospital Association.

The American College of Radiology congratulated Saphier on the nomination the same day. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would be the first radiologist physician to hold the surgeon general role, ACR said.

The surgeon general is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate for a 4-year term. The Office of the Surgeon General is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to ACR.

Saphier’s nomination has drawn criticism from some supporters of the MAHA movement. CNN described the reaction as part of a “new rift” between MAHA and MAGA, with its reporting focused on Saphier’s past criticism of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and some MAHA policy positions.

KFF Health News also reported that MAHA adherents have criticized the selection, describing Saphier as a more mainstream and traditional medical pick than Means.

Kennedy, however, has publicly supported Saphier. The Associated Press reported that he called her a “long-time warrior for the MAHA movement.”

The nomination follows turbulence around the surgeon general post. Means, a wellness author and health technology entrepreneur, faced questions about her medical license, unfinished residency, vaccine views, and potential conflicts of interest, according to AP and Reuters.

Compared with Means, Saphier is viewed by some outlets as a more conventional nominee because of her active medical background. Reuters reported that she has emphasized lifestyle-based prevention of chronic disease, a theme that overlaps with the MAHA movement, while also holding positions that may be more palatable to mainstream Republicans.

The debate has also centered on public health messaging. CNN’s reporting said Saphier’s history of criticizing Kennedy has become a flash point inside Trump’s health coalition.

Professional radiology groups have taken a different angle, focusing on the significance of the nomination for the specialty. ACR said the role would make Saphier the highest-profile radiologist physician in federal public health leadership if she is confirmed.

The next step is Senate consideration of the nomination. No confirmation vote date has been announced.