President-elect Donald Trump recently revealed his selections for key health leadership positions in the United States. The appointments include a New York family physician and Fox News medical contributor for surgeon general, a Florida physician and former congressman for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a surgeon and researcher at Johns Hopkins for the US Food and Drug Administration.
Upon the announcement, public health experts, former government officials, and researchers have begun to analyze and discuss Trump's choices. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat has been nominated for US surgeon general, Dr. David Weldon for CDC director, and Dr. Marty Makary for FDA commissioner. All three nominees will undergo Senate confirmation hearings.
While some experts have praised Makary and Nesheiwat as reasonable selections, concerns have been raised about Weldon. Weldon, Trump's pick for CDC director, has previously introduced legislation that aimed to shift vaccine safety oversight away from the CDC. He has also expressed doubts about the safety of vaccines that have already undergone extensive studies.
One of the main challenges facing the new public health leaders appointed by the Trump administration will be the need to maintain the integrity of science and prevent political interference in health matters.
Efforts to obtain comments from Nesheiwat and Makary were unsuccessful, while Weldon could not be reached for a response.
