Stephanie Haridopolos, a high-ranking official in the Office of the Surgeon General and the wife of Representative Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), is set to temporarily step into the role of surgeon general. The move comes as the Trump administration continues to face challenges in getting a permanent nominee confirmed by the Senate.
Admiral Brian Christine, MD, the Assistant Secretary for Health, is using his delegation of authority to allow Haridopolos to carry out many of the duties of the surgeon general on behalf of the American people, according to a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services. She will promote public health actions, advisories, and guidance until the next surgeon general is sworn in.
Haridopolos currently serves as director of national communications, chief of staff, and senior adviser at the OSG. Bloomberg first reported on her expanded duties after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. informed staff via email.
The position of surgeon general has remained vacant throughout President Trump's second term. His first two nominees, Janette Nesheiwat and Casey Means, failed to advance through the Senate. Last month, Trump withdrew Means' nomination and selected Nicole Saphier, a former Fox News contributor and radiologist, as his latest pick.
Haridopolos, a family physician, has a track record of shaping health policy at the state level. She led an effort to expand eligibility for subsidized coverage under Florida KidCare from 200 to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. "Getting involved in statewide health policy has driven me to help more people," she told the University of South Florida. "When the opportunity arose with this administration, I felt that the stars were aligned for me to take all this experience I had on the front lines and funnel it into a federal position. That's why I'm here."
Haridopolos also shared how her own health challenges influenced her career path. Born with an atrial septal defect—a hole in the chambers of the heart—she said, "I started out life as a patient, and so I was always looking through the lens of a patient. The experience I had as a child created in me a yearning to give back something greater than myself. So, this has been a lifelong journey for me and I feel like I was meant to be here."
The appointment has drawn scrutiny given the connection to a sitting member of Congress, though no formal ethics complaints have been filed. Representative Haridopolos did not respond to requests for comment. The situation mirrors broader concerns about political appointments in health agencies, as seen in recent controversies over disputed claims about raids on officials' offices and systemic issues in government accountability.
With the surgeon general's office in limbo, Haridopolos' interim role is expected to last until the Senate acts on Saphier's nomination, a process that could take months amid the current political climate.
