3. Federal Health Leadership Changes Continue
On May 11, the White House officially withdrew the nomination of Dr. Casey Means for U.S. Surgeon General and nominated Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and practicing physician at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New Jersey. The withdrawal came after Means’ nomination appeared to lack sufficient support to advance from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
On May 12, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced that he was resigning after leading the agency for just over a year. Reports indicated Makary, a surgeon and public health researcher, was not in agreement with the FDA’s recent approval of the marketing of four new flavored vape products. Kyle Diamantas, who has been leading the agency’s Human Foods program, will serve as acting commissioner.
🔗 Read more from the White House: Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate
🔗 Read more from STAT: Trump drops Casey Means as surgeon general nominee, opts for radiologist Nicole Saphier
🔗 Read more from PBS News: Trump pulls Casey Means’ stalled surgeon general nomination, picks Nicole Saphier instead
🔗 Read more from the Hill: Marty Makary to resign as FDA commissioner after just one year
🔗 Read more from Politico: Makary’s time atop FDA over, Diamantas named acting commissioner
