Radiologist surgeon general nominee faces 1st confirmation hearing

Nicole B. Saphier, MD, a radiologist nominated as the next U.S. surgeon general, faced her first confirmation hearing on Wednesday. 

The Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor & Pensions convened to question the board-certified breast specialist after she was first nominated by President Donald Trump in April. Among the topics touched on, Saphier defended immunizations for kids, contradicting claims made by her would-be boss, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. 

“I do not believe childhood vaccines cause autism,” she told HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., according to Politico.

Saphier also reportedly stated her support for universal hep B vaccination in response to further questioning. This after Kennedy in December tried to end the 34-year policy that recommended all babies get immunized at birth for this clinical concern.

“In the United States, the most tried and true way to prevent hepatitis B infection and effectively lower hepatitis B-associated illness is universal birth dosing,” Saphier told lawmakers.

This mark’s President Trump’s third nominee for surgeon general in his current term after the first two failed to secure confirmation. Politico notes that other members of the HELP committee have expressed optimism about the radiologist’s chances of securing the job, after previously stating skepticism around the other nominees. Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, who served as surgeon general during President Trump’s first term, told NPR he believes the radiologist will eventually secure confirmation. 

You can watch a recording of the full hearing, posted on the HELP Committee’s website, here and read more about Saphier’s background from Radiology Business here. Some have expressed opposition to her nomination, worried she’s not enough in line with the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, backed by Secretary Kennedy.