Could America’s next top doctor be a radiologist? The radiology world – and the rest of U.S. healthcare – was stunned late last week when the Trump Administration nominated radiologist Nicole Saphier, MD, to be surgeon general, replacing previous nominee Casey Means, MD.
If confirmed, Saphier’s nomination would be the first time a board-certified radiologist has held the position, which typically goes to physicians with experience in public health rather than medical specialists.
- Trump nominated Means for the position in May 2025, but the nomination languished over concerns about Means’ experience, her lapsed medical license, and her tepid support for vaccines.
On the other hand, Saphier is an actively practicing radiologist who serves as director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in New Jersey.
- She’s also been a frequent contributor to Fox News, where she appeared on the conservative network’s “Fox & Friends” morning show as an expert on public health policy.
Saphier was born and raised in Arizona, where she completed her radiology residency and was involved in efforts in 2014 to pass breast density notification legislation in the state.
- She moved to New Jersey later that year and worked in a private-practice breast imaging center before taking the position she currently holds at MSK Monmouth.
Saphier has always been active on social media (her X account has 364.4k followers), due to her belief that radiologists should be more visible to patients.
- It was that presence that initially drew the attention of Fox News producers, and Saphier began appearing on the network in 2016 to comment on public policy issues (her involvement with Fox ended with the nomination announcement).
Saphier’s nomination is already drawing critics who are combing over her history of statements on vaccines and the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In general, Saphier has expressed skepticism about government involvement in healthcare, but most of her beliefs fall within the mainstream of U.S. public health policy, which should bode well for her nomination.
ACR issued a statement supporting Saphier’s nomination, noting her work with the group on several public policy issues and observing that if confirmed, “Saphier would be the highest-ranking radiologist ever in government service.”
The Takeaway
Politics aside, Saphier’s ascension as surgeon general could have huge benefits for radiology in general and breast imaging in particular. Saphier has consistently supported mammography screening and issues like breast density awareness, and should her nomination succeed, radiology would find itself with an ally at the highest levels of the U.S. government.