Dr. Casey Means, the nominee for surgeon general, promised in government filings that she would sell the stake in a company she co-founded and step away from work as an influencer promoting dietary supplements and wellness products.
Dr. Means was nominated for the post by President Trump in May, but her confirmation hearing before a Senate committee was held up because she had not filed the required ethics and monetary records until a few days ago. Her financial filings detail holdings as varied as her advisory role at Levels, a company that provides glucose monitors, and family investments in tobacco and tech companies.
A close adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Means rose to prominence with a biography that included a successful academic career toward becoming a surgeon. She has said she left the medical profession out of frustration, asserting in public appearances and in her book that the health care system puts patients on a treadmill of surgeries and treatments without addressing the root cause of their illnesses.
In a newsletter and in social media channels, the financial documents show, she has monetized her worldview through payments from companies that sell supplements, home-delivered meals and other products. Dr. Means shares Mr. Kennedy’s critical stance toward the medical establishment and appreciation for supplements and other wellness items, even though they tend to undergo little federal scrutiny for effectiveness.
Dr. Means reported newsletter sponsorship payments over an 18-month period of $46,000 from Pique, a maker of tea, supplements and elixirs; $27,000 from Pendulum Therapeutics, Inc., which makes probiotic products; about $27,000 from Energybits, an algae supplement company; and about $16,000 from Florasophy, a fiber supplement company. In several such deals, Dr. Means also was paid fees for sales of products promoted in her newsletter.
Dr. Means reported more than $100,000 and less than $1 million in royalties for her book, “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health.” The government forms generally require people to disclose fees or income within a range, which can be broad.
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Surgeon General Nominee Pledges to Divest From Wellness Interests
