Mehmet Oz, a heart surgeon, television personality, and author, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump as the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator.
Mr Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, highlighting Mr Oz’s extensive experience in medicine and public communication as central to tackling what the U.S. president-elect described as America’s “healthcare crisis.”
In his statement, Mr Trump expressed strong confidence in Mr Oz’s abilities to reform the healthcare system.
“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,” said Mr Trump.
He also emphasised Mr Oz’s focus on disease prevention, fraud elimination, and ensuring that every healthcare dollar yields world-class results.
Dr Oz first rose to prominence as a pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon, earning acclaim for innovations in heart valve surgery.
His reputation as a medical expert expanded with appearances on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’, leading to his long-running syndicated ‘The Dr. Oz Show’.
Over the years, Mr Oz became a household name, advocating for health and wellness while addressing diverse medical topics for a general audience.
Mr Oz recently entered the political arena, running as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania during the 2022 midterms.
Although unsuccessful, his candidacy demonstrated his willingness to engage in broader national issues.
The CMS administrator position is one of the most influential in the U.S. healthcare system, overseeing a budget of over $1 trillion annually.
His collaboration with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine sceptic and public health advocate, suggests a potentially unconventional approach to tackling chronic diseases and healthcare inefficiencies.
Mr Oz’s confirmation process is expected to draw significant attention, given his high-profile career and the sweeping healthcare reforms promised by Mr Trump’s administration.
If confirmed, Mr Oz will oversee a massive agency responsible for managing federal healthcare programmes that serve millions of Americans, including Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for low-income individuals.
