Trump nominates Turkish-American Dr. Oz to lead Medicare, Medicaid to revamp US healthcare
Dr. Mehmet Oz speaks at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, United States. (AFP Photo)
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday his nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz, a prominent physician, television personality, and former Senate candidate, to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
This appointment aligns Oz with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Trump has tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as part of a sweeping plan to reform the nation’s healthcare system.
Dr. Oz to ‘Make America Healthy Again’
“America is facing a healthcare crisis, and there may be no physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again,” Trump said in a statement.
The CMS, operating under the HHS, is responsible for managing Medicare and Medicaid, which serve over 140 million Americans combined. Trump’s picks of Oz and Kennedy suggest a bold direction, particularly given Kennedy’s controversial stance on vaccines and public health measures.
Trump lauded the duo’s mission to tackle what he called the “illness industrial complex” and address chronic diseases, inefficiencies, and fraud plaguing the healthcare system.
A Turkish-American born in Ohio
Oz, a Turkish-American born in Cleveland, Ohio, to immigrant parents, brings a multifaceted background to the role. A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania’s medical and business schools, he became a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and professor at Columbia University, pioneering minimally invasive techniques like the MitraClip for heart valve repair.
His work extended beyond surgery into health advocacy, blending traditional and alternative medicine approaches.
Oz rose to fame in the 1990s through appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where his approachable style earned him the nickname “America’s Doctor.”
He later hosted The Dr. Oz Show, an Emmy-winning program that aired from 2009 to 2022, focusing on health and wellness. However, his promotion of unproven remedies and alternative treatments drew criticism from medical professionals.
From medical to political arena
In 2022, Oz transitioned into politics, running as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. Despite securing Trump’s endorsement and narrowly winning the Republican primary, he lost to Democrat John Fetterman in the general election.
Trump’s trust in Oz reportedly stems from his television presence during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he became an informal advisor to the then-president, offering insights on public health communication and treatment strategies.
Trump expressed confidence in his team. “Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex, and all the horrible chronic diseases left in its wake,” Trump said, adding that the appointments aim to improve outcomes for everyday Americans while reducing waste and fraud in the system.
The appointment comes amid sharp political and public health debates. Kennedy’s history of spreading vaccine misinformation and questioning the safety of public health initiatives raises concerns among experts.
Critics also point to Oz’s prior endorsements of dubious medical products as a potential liability in his new role.
Despite these controversies, Trump remains firm in his belief that Oz and Kennedy will bring transformative change to the U.S. healthcare system. “Our broken Healthcare System harms everyday Americans and crushes our country’s budget,” Trump said. “Together, Dr. Oz and RFK Jr. will restore trust, fight chronic illness, and root out the waste and fraud that plague the system.”
