Advocacy - Lab Advocate
President-elect Trump continues to shape his healthcare team with several new appointments. Following the nominations of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Mehmet Oz, MD, as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), three additional nominees have been announced for leadership roles at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
- FDA Commissioner: Marty Makary, MD, a surgical oncologist at Johns Hopkins, is the nominee for FDA Commissioner. Dr. Makary, a prominent advocate for science policy in medicine, has authored over 300 scientific articles and several best-selling books. He is also a recognized media contributor.
- CDC Director: Former Representative David Weldon, MD, has been nominated to lead the CDC. Dr. Weldon, who served 14 years in the House, will be the first CDC director to require Senate confirmation under a 2022 federal law. The President-elect stated that Dr. Weldon will focus on “transparency, competence, and high standards” at the agency.
- Surgeon General: Janette Nesheiwat, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician and medical director at CityMD in New York City, is the nominee for Surgeon General. Dr. Nesheiwat is known for her global medical relief work and media contributions.
Both Dr. Markary and Nesheiwat garnered public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic – frequently appearing on television to share their analyses and recommendations. The Senate will hold hearings on these nominees once the new administration takes office in January 2025.