Surgeon general nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier, in her own words

Elizabeth Cooney is a reporter at STAT specializing in cardiovascular disease, focusing on heart, stroke, and metabolic conditions. You can contact Liz on Signal at LizC.22.

Helen Branswell reports on infectious diseases at STAT, covering outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky. Contact Helen on Signal at hbranswell.01.

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With Casey Means no longer considered for the role of surgeon general by the Trump administration, the spotlight shifts to the newly announced nominee.

Nicole Saphier, introduced as the candidate on Thursday, holds a valid medical license, unlike Means, whose license has expired. Saphier, a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, oversees breast imaging at MSK Monmouth in New Jersey. She is also a familiar face as a regular contributor to Fox Business, where she has expressed that substantial research refutes the idea that vaccines cause autism, although she is open to alternative vaccination schedules for children.

Saphier has also shared her thoughts on several issues endorsed by the Make America Healthy Again initiative led by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She shows agreement with Kennedy on certain topics while questioning others. Here are her perspectives on vaccines, peptides, the use of Tylenol during pregnancy, dietary guidelines, breast cancer, and Casey Means.