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Nicole Saphier, similarly to Donald Trump’s previous two picks to be surgeon general this term, is an underqualified extremist. Although she does have experience working as a doctor, her qualifications fall well short of past surgeons general. Saphier attended medical school at the Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, and Ross, like all similar Caribbean medical schools, had admission standards far lower than medical schools in the United States; past surgeons general, meanwhile, have obtained their doctorates from more rigorous stateside schools such as Yale. Additionally, most past surgeons general had some experience with health administration; Vivek Murthy, Jerome Adams, Regina Benjamin, and Richard Carmona all had extensive education into matters of public health and experience with managing healthcare organizations, which Saphier lacks. Saphier also holds politically biased and scientifically dubious beliefs about public health. She first rose to prominence as a critic of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has maintained that position throughout her career as a health pundit, recently celebrating the failure of Congress to renew the ACA subsidies despite the resulting spike in health care costs. As a Fox News pundit, Saphier has consistently pushed conservative ideology over actual medical science. In particular, she spread harmful myths about transgender people, accusing them of being prone to violence and said they had “medical maladies.” She also established herself as a strong critic of vaccine mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, Saphier’s ownership of the herbal supplement brand DropRX deserves scrutiny. Aside from obvious conflict of interests issues with owning a for-profit supplement brand, the brand itself raises further questions about Saphier’s fitness to act in such a high-ranking medical capacity. Like all herbal supplements, DropRX is not required to prove effectiveness with the FDA, and the effectiveness of its herbal ingredients is questionable at best. |
¶ Saphier Lacked Qualification To Be Surgeon General
¶ Saphier Was Director Of Breast Imaging At A New Jersey Hospital
Saphier Was Director Of Breast Imaging At Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, Focusing On Using Imaging To Identify And Treat Diseases. According to Nicole Saphier’s profile page on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website, “I am a radiologist and Director of Breast Imaging at MSK Monmouth. I have extensive expertise in all areas of radiology, especially breast and body imaging. I use a variety of imaging techniques to achieve the best cancer care for my patients. I am experienced in performing minimally invasive, image-guided procedures of the breast, kidney, pancreas, liver, thyroid, and lymph nodes. These procedures can help patients avoid surgery to diagnose or manage their cancer. [...] I'm a radiologist, which is a doctor with special training in using imaging to diagnose and treat disease. Imaging includes X-rays, sonography, ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ” [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, accessed 5/4/26]
¶ Saphier’s Attended A Caribbean Medical School With Lower Standards Than U.S. Counterparts
2008: Saphier Received Her Medical Doctorate From Ross University School Of Medicine. According to Ross University School of Medicine, “RUSM alumna (class of 2008) Nicole Saphier, MD, is a radiologist who is at the forefront of the cause and has spent much of her career advocating for policy changes that will help women, and men alike, make informed decisions about their breast health.” [Ross University School of Medicine, 10/14/15]
- Saphier Completed Residency At Maricopa Integrated Health Systems. [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, accessed 5/1/26]
- Saphier Completed A Fellowship At The Mayo Clinic. [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, accessed 5/1/26]
Ross University Medical School’s Admission Requirements Were Lower Than Most U.S.-Based Medical Schools. According to Medical School Insider, “(Ross is) Not as competitive as US schools. According to a recent graduate from Ross, most students have about average GPA’s (3.5 or so) and MCAT scores in the 25-27 range. Ross’s website states that they take a more ‘holistic’ approach to choosing their medical school class and do not base their decision solely on academics.” [Medical School Insider, accessed 5/1/26]
- Ross University Medical School Had An Acceptance Rate Of 42.7%. According to Shemassian Academic Consulting, “The Ross University School of Medicine acceptance rate is 42.7%.” [Shemassian Academic Consulting, accessed 5/1/26]
- On Average, U.S. Medical Schools Had A 4.23% Acceptance Rate. According to MedSchoolCoach, “While the trend may be that overall acceptance rates are slightly increasing (due to more seats and fewer applicants), the average acceptance rate to individual schools remains extremely low. On average, MD schools accept 4.23% of their applicants. Six programs boast acceptance rates under 1% (!), while only 18 programs have acceptance rates over 7%.” [MedSchoolCoach, accessed 5/1/26]
As Of 2009, Fewer Than A Third Of Ross Students Finished In Four Years Compared To Nearly 100 Percent Of U.S. Medical School Students. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “But federal regulators are taking a closer look at evidence suggesting taxpayers and students may be getting shortchanged by foreign medical schools. - At Ross, fewer than one-third of the students finish in four years, compared to nearly 100 percent at U.S. medical schools. - Since Ross, like other Caribbean medical schools, doesn't have a teaching hospital, it pays hospitals stateside for students' clinical training, with wide variations in quality.” [Tampa Bay Times, 1/1/10]
As Of 2009, Ross Accepted Applicants With Mcat Scores As Low As 17 Compared To An Average Of Nearly 31 At U.S. Medical Schools. According to the Tampa Bay Times, "No one disputes that it's easier to get into Ross than a U.S. medical school. Ross accepts scores on the MCAT, the standardized test all medical school applicants must take, as low as 17, compared to an average of nearly 31 at U.S. medical schools.” [Tampa Bay Times, 1/1/10]
Caribbean Medical Schools Like Ross Broadly Operated As For-Profit Institutions With Lax Admission Standards. According to The New York Times, “In the 1970s, a wave of medical schools began to open across the Caribbean, catering largely to American students who had not been accepted to U.S. medical schools; today there are roughly 80 of them. Unlike their U.S. counterparts, the schools are predominantly for-profit institutions, their excess revenue from tuition and fees going to investors. Admissions standards at Caribbean schools tend to be more lax than at schools in the United States. Many do not consider scores on the standardized Medical College Admission Test as a factor in admissions. Acceptance rates at some are 10 times as high as those at American schools. They also do not guarantee as clear a career path. The residency match rate for international medical graduates is about 60 percent, compared with over 94 percent for U.S. graduates. [...] In 2017 when Hurricane Maria hit Dominica, where Ross University School of Medicine’s campus was situated, the school decided to offer its students accommodations on a ship docked near St. Kitts. To some of the students, this sounded like an adventure. But as soon as they arrived on the boat, they realized that it did not lend itself to rigorous study.” [New York Times, 6/29/21]
¶ Previous U.S. Surgeons General Attended Highly Regarded Medical Schools And Had Experience In Health Care Administration
¶ Vivek Murthy (2015-2017, 2021-2025)
2003: Murthy Received His Medical Doctorate And Masters Of Business Administration From Yale University. According to Yale School of Management, "Pointing to an epidemic of loneliness in the United States that’s fueling the nation’s civil rancor, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy encouraged students at the Yale School of Management to infuse their professional and personal lives with a healing dose of 'humanity.' 'We expand circles of concern and advocacy by building relationships and getting to know people,' said Murthy, a 2003 graduate of the joint MD/MBA program at Yale SOM and the Yale School of Medicine, during a September 8 talk. 'That’s how we address deep inequities, pandemics, and poverty… We are talking fundamentally about the foundation of human society. It’s built on relationships, and that founding is eroding.' " [Yale School of Management, 9/13/22]
Prior To Becoming Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Founded And Co-Founded Multiple Health-Care Nonprofits, Partnerships, And Programs. According to Vivek Murthy’s website, “VISIONS: Co-founded with his sister, Rashmi, a peer-to-peer HIV/AIDS education program in India and the United States that reached tens of thousands of students. Swasthya Project: Co-founded a community health partnership that trained women to defy the odds in their patriarchal villages and become health care providers and educators. TrialNetworks: Co-founded a software technology company that improves research collaboration in clinical trials and is powering research studies around the world. Doctors for America: Co-founded a nonprofit with more than 18,000 physician and medical student members from all 50 states dedicated to creating a high quality, affordable health care system for all. Medical care and education: Cared for thousands of patients and trained hundreds of medical students and residents. Research: Conducted basic science research on vaccines and health care services research focused on the participation of women and minorities in clinical trials. His research and perspectives have been published in the nation’s top medical journals.” [Vivek Murthy website, accessed 5/1/26]
¶ Jerome Adams (2017-2021)
2000: Adams Attained A Masters Of Public Health From The University Of California, Berkley. According to Jerome Adams’ profile on the Indiana University School of Medicine website, “Dr. Adams was re-appointed by Governor Eric J. Holcomb as the Indiana State Health Commissioner effective January 9, 2017. [...] He earned a B.S. in biochemistry and a B.A. in biopsychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has been a researcher at medical schools in both the Netherlands and Zimbabwe and has worked under Nobel Prize winner Dr. Tom Cech. He earned his Medical Doctorate at the Indiana University School of Medicine [2002], and his Masters of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley [in 2000].” [Indiana University School of Medicine, accessed 5/1/26]
2002: Adams Attained A Medical Doctorate From The Indiana University School Of Medicine. According to Jerome Adams’ profile on the Indiana University School of Medicine website, “Dr. Adams was re-appointed by Governor Eric J. Holcomb as the Indiana State Health Commissioner effective January 9, 2017. [...] He earned a B.S. in biochemistry and a B.A. in biopsychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has been a researcher at medical schools in both the Netherlands and Zimbabwe and has worked under Nobel Prize winner Dr. Tom Cech. He earned his Medical Doctorate at the Indiana University School of Medicine [2002], and his Masters of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley [in 2000].” [Indiana University School of Medicine, accessed 5/1/26]
2014-2017: Adams Served As Indiana’s State Health Commissioner. According to The Harvard Gazette, “Adams, an anesthesiologist who served as Indiana state health commissioner from 2014 to 2017, was nominated as surgeon general by President Trump in June and confirmed by the Senate in August.” [Harvard Gazette, 1/25/18]
¶ Regina Benjamin (2009-2013)
Benjamin Attained A Doctorate Of Public Health From The University of Alabama, An MBA From Tulane University, And Continued Her Medical Education At Morehouse School Of Medicine. According to Regina Benjamin’s personal website, “Dr. Benjamin has a B.S. in chemistry from Xavier University, New Orleans, an M.D. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an MBA from Tulane University. She attended Morehouse School of Medicine and completed her family medicine residency in Macon, Ga. Dr. Benjamin is the recipient of 22 honorary degrees.” [Regina Benjamin website, accessed 5/4/26]
Benjamin Held Various High Positions Within The American Medical Association And Led Alabama’s Medical Association. According to Regina Benjamin’s personal website, “Dr. Benjamin is former associate dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile and past chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States. In 1995, she was the first physician under age 40 and the first African-American woman to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She served as president of the American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation and chair of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. In 2002, she became the first African-American female president of a state medical society in the United States when she assumed leadership of the Medical Association State of Alabama.” [Regina Benjamin website, accessed 5/4/26]
Benjamin Founded And Acted As CEO For Bayou Clinic, Serving Underprivileged Communities In The South. According to COVID Collaborative, “As founder and CEO of the rural BayouClinic in Bayou La Batre, Dr. Regina Benjamin is making a difference to the underserved poor in a small fishing village on the Gulf Coast of Alabama.” [COVID Collaborative, accessed 5/4/26]
¶ Richard Carmona (2002-2006)
Carmona Attained His Medical Doctorate And Bachelor’s Degree From The University Of California, San Francisco, And His Masters Of Public Health From The University of Arizona. [University of Arizona, accessed 5/4/26]
Carmona Directed Arizona’s First Regional Trauma Care System And Led The South Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System. According to Richard Carmona’s page on the University of Arizona’s website, “Dr. Carmona was then recruited jointly by the Tucson Medical Center and the University of Arizona to start and direct Arizona’s first regional trauma care system. He went on to become the chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System, a professor of surgery, public health and family and community medicine at the University of Arizona, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department surgeon and deputy sheriff. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Carmona’s interest in public health stemmed from the realization that most of his patients’ illnesses and injuries were completely preventable.” [University of Arizona, accessed 5/4/26]
¶ Saphier Espoused Extreme, Partisan Conservative Views On Medical Issues
¶ Saphier Opposed Public Health Measures To Contain COVID-19
2020: Despite Her Support For The COVID Vaccine, Saphier Called Vaccination A “Personal Choice.” According to Children’s Health Defense, “Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, Saphier publicly expressed confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines and suggested that anyone who wishes to get the vaccine should take the first available dose. However, she also called vaccination a ‘personal choice’ and said not everyone would need to get vaccinated.” [Children’s Health Defense, 4/30/26]
December 2021: Saphier Called Vaccine Mandates “Knee Jerk” And Denied Their Effectiveness, Suggesting That Mandates Be Dropped Outright To Build Natural Immunity According to Mediaite, “Saphier joined Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer on America’s Newsroom Wednesday to talk about Democrats who support a vaccine mandate for anyone who wants to board a plane. Saphier argued that ‘you don’t see high transmission on planes, if any at all,’ and she described mandates as ‘knee-jerk’ policies that ‘make for good optics, but not actually doing much to decrease the transmission.’ From there, Hemmer turned to the Omicron variant as he spoke about its high level of contagiousness, but also the assessment out of South Africa that it seems to cause less severe illness than other forms of the coronavirus. This prompted Saphier to suggest that since the world has vaccines, boosters and Covid treatments publicly available now, the country should move on from mandates and keep building up public natural immunity.” [Mediaite, 12/15/21]
April 2026: Saphier Compared Anger At COVID Lockdowns To Anger At Donald Trump’s Authoritarianism, Asked Where No Kings Protests Were During Covid Lockdowns. VIDEO – NICOLE SAPHIER: You know, I actually walked in the midst of these protesters for about three blocks to get here to work today. And so I, you know, I was reading all the signs. I was listening to what they were saying. And, um, and I felt their anger and I felt their frustration. And for a moment, I'm like, you know, I know this feeling because I'm old enough to remember six years ago when 90% of the country was under some sort of government mandated restriction in the era of COVID. And what we saw from the limited movement of shutting down of businesses, kids out of school, you know, all of these things that had these massive consequences economic, mental health, alcoholism, up, education for our kids. Where were these same people protesting for those government restrictions? You have to remember, you had Gavin Newsom in California, who had some of the most strict and longest restrictions in California . Where was the No king's protests there? J.B. Pritzker also some of the most strict requirements during this time. And yet that is when we really had the government oversight and government mandated restrictions. Not now. Where were these people then? [Fox News, 4/28/26]
¶ Saphier Criticized The Affordable Care Act
Saphier Criticized The Affordable Care Act And Called For “Personal Responsibility.” According to The Hill, “In the book, Saphier also joined Republicans in criticizing the Affordable Care Act, a landmark Obama-era healthcare reform policy. ‘Policies such as the Affordable Care Act and single-payer plans ignore something crucial to lowering the overall financial burden: personal responsibility,’ the book’s description reads. ‘We can no longer expect doctors and the government to fix illnesses we have the power to prevent. Regardless of which health policy is adopted, our nation will flounder unless we take action. It is up to the American people to make America healthy again.’” [The Hill, 4/30/26]
December 2025: Saphier Celebrated The Expiration Of The ACA Subsidies Despite Acknowledging That This Would Result In Premiums Increasing. From her podcast’s transcript on iHeart Radio: “Well, the Senate rejected both the Democratic and Republican healthcare proposals, and frankly, this was the right call. Now, if you haven't been watching the news, there's a bit of urgency going on in Washington right now because the expanded ACA subsidies that happened with COVID, which is essentially a lot of federal dollars going to insurance companies to help afford the Affordable aka Unaffordable Care Act. They're set to expire in a couple of weeks at the end of this month. Now, if those federal subsidies are not expanded, millions of Americans are going to face significant insurance premium hikes starting in early twenty twenty six if they get their healthcare on the ACA marketplace. So Democrats are saying, you absolutely have to expand those subsidies. We do not want Americans having these high costs, and Republicans are like, absolutely not. The Affordable Care Act has failed and it is anything other than affordable. Well, so in haste, you now have Democrats and Republicans trying to put together bills by the end of the month to try and fix this problem. And like I said, they were both rejected, and that was the right call, because whether it's Medicare for All on the left or some half measures on the right, nothing is going to work unless we address the real damage done by the Affordable Care Act.” [iHeart Radio, 12/12/25]
January 11, 2026: Nicole Saphier Blamed The ACA For Fraud In The Healthcare Industry. VIDEO – NICOLE SAPHIER: You know, actually, the Affordable Care Act opened up some of this fraud because what it did, it caused massive consolidations all throughout the health care industries where you actually only have sometimes 1 to 1, two or three businesses being being able to give certain services in individual states they have completely monopolized their realm of health care, and that opens it up for fraud and abuse. And so what happened here was if you have certain people who are providing these care, it's easy for them because no one's having oversight there, because they have the direct contracts with the government and there's not oversight there. [Fox News, 1/11/26]
¶ Saphier Spread False And Hurtful Claims About Transgender Individuals
February 17, 2026: Saphier Claimed That Transgender People Were More Likely To Have “Violent Tendencies.” VIDEO – NICOLE SAPHIER: Now, as you have already pointed out, John, trans people have a much higher risk of mental illness and also substance abuse disorders, in fact, and then the medications that you give for these are SSRIs, benzodiazepines. These medications themselves also increase the risk of violence (sic) tendencies. In Sweden, one of the registries showed trans patients had a fourfold higher chance of taking some of these medications. So substance abuse disorders, mental health disorders, and then the medications they take all confound and can increase their risk of violent tendencies. [Fox News, 2/17/26]
February 17, 2026: Saphier Referred To Transgenderism As “Mental Maladies.” VIDEO – NICOLE SAPHIER: So we have to stop thinking that the answer to these mental maladies is allowing them access to gender transition, especially in kids before their brain is fully formed. It's not the answer. [Fox News, 2/17/26]
¶ Saphier Pushed Misleading Information About Baby Formula
February 1, 2026: Nicole Saphier Criticized The “Overutilization” Of Baby Formula And Claimed That It Should Only Be Used For Crises, And That Breast Milk Helped Babies Fight Infections. VIDEO – NICOLE SAPHIER: Breast milk remains will always be the biologic gold standard when it comes to infant and maternal health. And the reason that is, the reason formula was developed about a century ago was for those few circumstances where a woman couldn't breastfeed. Maybe the mother died during childbirth. But what has happened is you've had this industry completely expand and there's been an overutilization of formula. And the reality is, scientifically speaking, formula will never be breast milk. And the reason that is, yes, they can try and mimic the nutrients, but human breast milk is biologically active. It's very dynamic. It changes from day to day. It changes with the infant as the infant develops. If you have a preterm infant, your breast milk composition is different than a full term infant because the body knows what the baby needs. And if the baby has an infection, the mother has an infection. You actually see infection fighting cells in the breast milk. So we've always say breast is best and we need to get back to making sure that people really know that and doing everything possible to support people breastfeeding. [Fox News, 2/1/26]
January 18, 2026: Nicole Saphier Blamed Baby Formula For Childhood Obesity. VIDEO – NICOLE SAPHIER: Now, what is interesting as well, so we already know about the heavy metals, but the nutritional component, Rachel, as you are just pointing out, here in the United States, we have added sugar and ultra processed material to these infant formulas. And while they check boxes saying, okay, well, there's enough iron, there's enough of this vitamin, we fail to recognize the amount of sugar and carbohydrates that we are now giving to babies, which is why you see more overweight babies and toddlers and childhood obesity crisis. [Fox News, 1/18/26]
- A Study Found Specific Formula Feeding Practices And The Use Of High Protein Formulas, More Than Formula As A Whole, Contributed To Rapid Weight Gain. According to an article published in Maternal And Child Nutrition, “Available evidence indicates that some formula feeding practices (such as adding cereals in bottle, putting a baby to bed with bottle, and overfeeding formula) and compositions (higher protein) that may contribute to RWG.” [Maternal And Child Nutrition, 4/14/18]
- A 2025 Study Found That Non-Standard Formula Types Led To Increased Risk Of Obesity While Standard Formula Was Comparable To Breastfeeding. According to NutraIngredients, “Writing in the journal Nutrients, researchers in the United States analyzed data from 5,515 infants to evaluate how cow-milk-based infant formula types and breastfeeding affect growth in infants and toddlers under the age of three. Results indicated a correlation between use of non-standard infant formula, such as those marketed as ‘gentle digestion’ or ‘hypoallergenic’ and greater weight gain in the first year of life, in comparison to standard formula and breastmilk.” [NutraIngredients, 10/2/25]
¶ Saphier Owns The Herbal Supplement Brand DropRX
¶ Saphier Founded The Herbal Supplement Brand DropRX
Saphier Founded DropRX, An Herbal Supplement Brand. From the DropRX website: “Hi, I’m Dr. Nicole Saphier, a practicing physician, mom of three, author, and someone who truly believes that better health starts with simple, intentional choices. Every day in my medical practice, I see how powerful prevention and lifestyle habits can be. I also see how overwhelmed people feel trying to sort through wellness trends, confusing labels, and products that don’t always live up to their promises. That’s why I created DropRx. I wanted to develop clean, thoughtfully crafted tinctures that support focus, calm, balance, and overall wellness, without unnecessary fillers or hype. Each formula is inspired by both traditional herbal wisdom and modern scientific insight, and designed to fit seamlessly into real life. My goal is to give you tools that help you feel your best, naturally, confidently, and on your own terms.” [DropRX, accessed 5/4/26]
DropRX Used Sage Leaf, Gingko Biloba, Ginseng Root, And Rosemary Leaf As Its Main Ingredients And Touted Benefits Including “Cognitive Function,” “Supports Cardiovascular Health,” And “Memory Health.” From DropRX’s Amazon listing:
[Amazon, accessed 5/4/26]
¶ Herbal Supplements Like DropRX Were Not Approved By The FDA And Had Inconsistent Benefits
Herbal Supplements Hit The Market Without Proving Effectiveness With The FDA. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “It’s also important to know that manufacturers of herbal products and other supplements aren’t required to prove that their products are either safe or effective before they’re put on the market. In other words, a supplement or herb can hit the store shelves and be sold without proving it’s safe. Or that it’ll be beneficial. The FDA does have the power to remove a product from the market if it’s shown to be dangerous. But the process can take years and is mostly self-monitored. Very few supplements have been taken off the market.” [Cleveland Clinic, 2/14/24]
Medical Professionals Identified The Evidence For Health Benefits For Gingko As “Inconsistent”. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Claims: Ginkgo supplements are popularly touted as a remedy for memory issues and dementia. Some people also use ginkgo for depression, altitude sickness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and circulatory issues. What the evidence says: Ginkgo is generally considered safe and well-tolerated. But evidence regarding its effectiveness in cognition, mood and dementia has been inconsistent.” [Cleveland Clinic, 2/14/24]