Casey Means has steadily worked her way into President Donald Trump’s political orbit, evolving from wellness entrepreneur into one of the most controversial health figures in Washington. After working closely with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his 2024 presidential campaign, Means built a public profile around metabolic health, chronic disease prevention and wellness advocacy — ultimately earning a May 2025 nomination from Trump to serve as U.S. Surgeon General.
Her confirmation hearing — rescheduled from October 2025 after she went into labor — took place in February 2026, and Means faced intense questioning from lawmakers over her medical background, inactive medical license and positions on vaccines, pesticides and other public health issues.
Because Trump and other allies frequently refer to her as “Dr. Casey Means,” many Americans are asking: What are her medical qualifications, what has she said under scrutiny, and what would her leadership mean for U.S. public health?
Below, learn all about Casey’s medical expertise and educational background.
Who Is Casey Means?
Casey is a wellness influencer, co-author of Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health and co-founder and chief medical officer at Levels. Due to Trump’s nomination of her to be the surgeon general, Casey could serve in the position while supporting RFK Jr.
Is Casey Means a Real Doctor?
Yes, Casey is a doctor, but she doesn’t practice medicine. She has an inactive license and holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Stanford University. When she turned 30, Casey dropped out of Oregon Health and Science University to pursue her pseudoscientific goals while challenging mainstream healthcare in America.
As her career progressed, Casey opened her own medical practice in Portland, Oregon, but her state license has been inactive since early 2024.
While promoting her 2024 book, Casey pointed out in a lengthy Instagram post that the “the metabolic health crisis is the biggest threat we face” in the U.S. She further alleged that the “biggest lie in healthcare is that type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, depression, arthritis, infertility and more are totally different diseases requiring separate doctors and pills for life.”
“The chronic diseases which account for 90 percent of health costs and nine out of 10 deaths result from the SAME THING — dysfunction in our body’s fundamental ability to produce energy, which is caused by simple environmental features that have changed in just a century,” Casey added in her caption at the time.
Is Casey Means Married?
Yes, Casey is reportedly married to her husband, Brian Nickerson. She has kept details from her personal life away from the public eye. She went into labor with her first child in October 2025.
Who Is Calley Means?
Calley Means is Casey’s brother, who co-authored their book, Good Energy, and he has remained a prominent presence in his sister’s career. As a former food industry lobbyist, Calley has expressed his support for RFK Jr. and the “Make America Healthy Again” goal.
