MSNBC, USA Today, and Others Falsely Claim Dr. Casey Means has no Medical License

On May 8th, 2025, a wave of articles emerged across various media outlets, alleging that Dr. Casey Means, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General, lacks a medical license and never completed her education—some even claiming she holds no medical degree at all.

These claims are entirely false.

The Claims and Claimants

MSNBC referred to the nomination as a "dark joke" in a segment titled 'Dark joke': MAHA influencer with no medical license tapped as Trump surgeon general , both on-air and online.

USA Today asserted that “Her medical license expired in 2019” and claimed that “She dropped out of the residency program.”

"She dropped out of the residency program. Her medical license expired in 2019." – USA Today

The Independent stated that Dr. Means had no medical license and detailed the steps required to obtain one, including passing the three-step USMLE exam necessary for medical licensure in the U.S.

Yahoo! News amplified a New Republic article titled, Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Is Wellness Influencer With No Med Degree.

Despite their reach, these articles share one glaring issue: they all present falsehoods as fact.

The Facts

Dr. Casey Means graduated with honors from Stanford University School of Medicine, earning a legitimate and accredited medical degree.

She obtained her postgraduate MD license and completed her internship through the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) program in Portland, Oregon.

Following that, she completed a three-year residency under the same program and successfully passed all three steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)—a requirement for all practicing physicians in the U.S., sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).

She began a third residency as part of a five-year program in otolaryngology surgery but withdrew from it in 2018. This is the residency referred to by some outlets as the one she “dropped out” of—yet they fail to mention that she had already completed two residencies prior.

In 2018, Dr. Means also obtained a full medical license. According to the Oregon Medical Board, this license authorizes her:

"...to practice medicine, prescribe medications, perform surgery, and utilize any of a number of recognized modalities of therapy in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, illness, injury, and physical conditions... In Oregon, an MD's scope of practice also includes the practice of acupuncture."
— Oregon Medical Board

In short:

She holds a medical degree from Stanford.
She graduated with honors.
She completed two residencies and part of a third.
She holds a valid, full medical license.
She passed the USMLE.

Additionally, she is a New York Times best selling author and businesswoman.

Does This Qualify Her to Be Surgeon General?

This article does not take a position on Dr. Means’s qualifications for the role. However, it does aim to correct the record and highlight that many widely circulated claims against her are demonstrably false.

Ironically, the very document these outlets cite to question her credentials—the License Verification Details provided by the Oregon Medical Board—directly contradicts their claims.

That document confirms:

Dr. Means holds an active MD license (#MD191266), valid through December 31st, 2025.
She has continuously held a medical license since 2014.
An “Inactive” status simply indicates that the licensee is not currently practicing in Oregon—it does not mean the individual lacks a license.
She received her degree from Stanford University School of Medicine.
She completed postgraduate training, including an internship and two additional residencies.
She has no disciplinary board actions or malpractice claims on record.

Conclusion

Media outlets such as MSNBC, USA Today, and others have published demonstrably false information regarding Dr. Casey Means’s education and licensure. These inaccuracies form the basis of their criticisms and conclusions about her fitness for office.

Fact Check Verdict: FALSE CLAIMS

Claimant: MSNBC, NBC, USA Today, Newsweek, and others

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