Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has tapped Stephanie Haridopolos, the top staffer in the Office of the Surgeon General, to serve as interim surgeon general until the role is filled by a Senate-confirmed nominee.
Dr. Haridopolos, who is married to Rep. Mike Haridopolos, Florida Republican, will temporarily step in while the Trump administration pushes Dr. Nicole Saphier’s confirmation — President Trump’s third nominee for the vacant post.
“Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brian Christine, M.D. is using his delegation of authority powers to allow Dr. Haridopolos to begin carrying out many of the duties of the Surgeon General on behalf of the American people,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services told The Washington Times in a statement. “She will promote OSG public health actions, advisories, and guidance until the next Surgeon General is sworn into office.”
The Times has reached out to the Office of the Surgeon General for comment.
Dr. Haridopolos, a family medicine physician, told Bloomberg, “It continues to be an honor to serve at the most impactful HHS in history under President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s leadership as we Make America Healthy Again.”
The role of surgeon general has gone unfilled since Mr. Trump returned to the White House, as his first two nominees, Janette Nesheiwat and Casey Means, were pulled before being confirmed by the Senate.
Dr. Saphier, a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New Jersey and a Fox News medical contributor, was announced for the permanent post last month.
Dr. Haridopolos’ temporary appointment comes amid numerous vacancies in HHS, such as in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.
At the same time, the Health Department is monitoring a global outbreak of hantavirus and Ebola.
