Shouldn't the Surgeon General Have a Medical License?

"Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut grilled her on a pending complaint that she violated FTC rules by failing to disclose financial relationships to products she's promoted. 'This seems systemic,' said Murphy. 'It seems 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.'"

"Means graduated from Stanford Medical School, but dropped out of surgical training to become a head and neck surgeon. She went on to open a functional medicine practice in Oregon, though she stopped seeing patients a few years ago and doesn't currently have an active medical license. At the hearing, she said she has no plans to reactivate her license, if confirmed."

"Alongside her book, Means runs a company, called Levels, that promotes the use of continuous glucose monitors and also sells various supplements and wellness products on her website. Means has agreed to divest from her companies if confirmed as surgeon general."

Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford Medical School graduate who left surgical training to establish a functional medicine practice in Oregon, is nominated for surgeon general despite no longer holding an active medical license and having no plans to reactivate it if confirmed. Her career centers on wellness promotion through her company Levels, which sells continuous glucose monitors and supplements. During congressional testimony, Means faced significant questioning about undisclosed financial relationships with products she promoted, with Senator Chris Murphy characterizing this pattern as systemic FTC violations. She also struggled to address questions about vaccine efficacy, particularly regarding flu vaccines, in relation to statements made by HHS Secretary Roadkill. Means has agreed to divest from her companies if confirmed.

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