STAT+: In her own words: Surgeon general nominee Nicole Saphier expresses enthusiasm and caution for MAHA

STAT PlusHealth In her own words: Surgeon general nominee Nicole Saphier expresses enthusiasm and caution for MAHA ‘Questioning the vaccine schedule, that doesn’t mean you’re anti-vax’ Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Elizabeth Cooney, Helen Branswell, and Katie PalmerApril 30, 2026 Elizabeth Cooney[email protected]Elizabeth Cooney is a cardiovascular disease reporter at STAT, covering heart, stroke, and metabolic conditions. You can reach Liz on Signal at LizC.22.Helen BranswellHelen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky.

You can reach Helen on Signal at hbranswell.01.Katie Palmer[email protected]Katie Palmer covers telehealth, clinical artificial intelligence, and the health data economy — with an emphasis on the impacts of digital health care for patients, providers, and businesses. You can reach Katie on Signal at palmer.01. Now that Casey Means is no longer the Trump administration’s choice for Surgeon General, attention is turning to the third nominee for the position.

Nicole Saphier, whose candidacy was announced Thursday, is a licensed physician — unlike Means, whose license lapsed. A radiologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Saphier (pronounced SAA-fire) is director of breast imaging at MSK Monmouth in New Jersey. She may be more widely known as a regular contributor to Fox Business, where she has said that the overwhelming majority of “good research” disputes the notion that vaccines are linked to autism, but has expressed an openness to alternative childhood vaccine schedules.

Advertisement Saphier has weighed in on many other concerns shared by the Make America Healthy Again movement promoted by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., agreeing with Kennedy on some but also clearly questioning on others. In her own words, here are her views on vaccines, peptides, Tylenol in pregnancy, dietary guidelines, breast cancer, and also, Casey Means.

STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account?

Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+.

Subscribe Log In chronic diseases, government agencies, politics, public health, RFK Jr., STAT+, White House Submit a correction requestReprints Elizabeth Cooney Cardiovascular Disease Reporter Elizabeth Cooney is a cardiovascular disease reporter at STAT, covering heart, stroke, and metabolic conditions. You can reach Liz on Signal at LizC.22. Helen Branswell Infectious Diseases Correspondent Helen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development.

Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky. You can reach Helen on Signal at hbranswell.01. Katie Palmer Health Tech Correspondent Katie Palmer covers telehealth, clinical artificial intelligence, and the health data economy — with an emphasis on the impacts of digital health care for patients, providers, and businesses.

You can reach Katie on Signal at palmer.01. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended Health April 30, 2026 Trump drops Casey Means as surgeon general nominee, opts for radiologist Nicole Saphier Pharmalot April 30, 2026 STAT Plus: FDA wants to exclude weight loss drugs from a compounding list Advertisement Insurance April 30, 2026 STAT Plus: DOJ, Elevance spar over access to top exec in Medicare Advantage fraud case Business April 30, 2026 STAT Plus: Cigna will exit ACA individual markets next year, adding to tumult for patients D.C. Diagnosis April 30, 2026 STAT Plus: Democrats go hard on health care affordability Subscriber Picks