President Donald Trump has nominated Nicole Saphier, MD, as surgeon general after withdrawing his prior pick, Casey Means, MD.
“Nicole is a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment while tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention, while at the same time working with men and women on all other forms of cancer diagnoses and treatments,” President Trump said in an April 30 Truth Social post announcing the nomination.
Dr. Saphier is a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s facility in Monmouth County, N.J., and was a contributor on Fox News, according to the company. If confirmed by the Senate, she would serve as the nation’s top physician, issuing public health advisories and overseeing the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, which includes more than 6,000 uniformed public health officers.
The move follows months of uncertainty surrounding Dr. Means’ nomination, which stalled after her Feb. 25 Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing. Lawmakers raised concerns about her views on vaccines and her clinical background, and no full Senate vote was scheduled.
Dr. Means had been nominated in May 2025 but faced opposition from some Senate Republicans and advocacy groups.
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