Continuing on the thread about vaccines and autism, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the committee's ranking member, said Means' answers were "political and not to the point."

The American Medical Association, Sanders said, insists an abundance of studies shows "no link" between vaccines and autism. That's in contrast to Kennedy's past statements.

Sanders said "it is" an issue that so many children are being diagnosed with autism, but said, "we don't want conspiracy theories" to determine public health. 

"Absolutely, I 100% agree with you," Means interjected. "And also, as a biomedical researcher and physician, I am not going to sit here and say that we should not study something in the future." 

Sanders said the "overwhelming" evidence shows vaccines don't cause autism. 

Means said anti-vaccine rhetoric has never been a part of her message. 

When Cassidy asked Means if she believed there was a connection between vaccines and autism, she did not give a clear answer. Since Kennedy took office, federal websites have been updated to include false claims about autism and vaccines. 

"I'm a physician. The reality is we have an autism crisis that is increasing and this is devastating to many families," Means said. "We do not know, as a medical community, what causes autism." 

Means highlighted the Trump administration's funding of studies looking at environmental factors. Means said that she accepted evidence that showed vaccines did not cause autism but that "science is never settled." 

More than once, Cassidy, the Republican chairman who is also a physician, asked Means if she would encourage women to vaccinate their children with the MMR vaccine against measles. 

"Tragically, next question, we've had two children die from measles in West Texas," Cassidy said. "We've now had an outbreak of like a thousand children almost in South Carolina area. You're a mom. We're on the verge of losing our measles elimination status. Would you encourage other mothers to have their children vaccinated against measles with the MMR vaccine?"

Means said she believes vaccines "save lives." But she stopped short of saying she would encourage mothers to vaccine their children, when pressed. 

"I'm supportive of vaccination," she said. "I do believe that each patient, mother, parent, needs to have a conversation with their pediatrician about any medication they're putting in their body, their children's body."

In her opening statement, Means focused much of her attention on tackling chronic diseases by addressing what she said are some of their root causes. 

"Our nation is angry, exhausted and hurting from preventable diseases," she said. 

Means blamed America's chronic disease epidemic on ultra-processed food, industrial chemical exposure, lack of physical activity, chronic stress, loneliness and "overmedicalization." 

"I believe that every American shares a core yearning to thrive and help their families thrive, but we are asking people to make healthy choices in environments that are squarely structured against them," she said. 

Means blasted what she called conflicts of interest in federal health agencies, and praised the president and Kennedy for their interest in addressing chronic disease issues. 

She also defended her credentials, saying she has treated thousands of patients, has run her own medical practice and co-founded a health technology company to help patients address blood sugar dysregulation. 

The committee will take a 15-minute break at 11 a.m. so Means can care for her baby boy, who was born on the day she was supposed to have her confirmation hearing in October. 

"And by the way, congratulations on your baby," Chairman Bill Cassidy said as he opened the hearing. "It gives you a great perspective on life, and I trust all is well."

Means is an author and has built a large following online by writing about health and wellness, often focusing on metabolic health. In her newsletter "Good Energy," she has criticized both the food and health care industries. A wishlist for the administration she published in 2024 included praise for Kennedy and a list of priorities including the reformation of "burdensome food regulations" and an investigation of the childhood vaccine schedule.

Means and her brother also wrote the book "Good Energy," where they said their mother had "simply been prescribed pills" after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer instead of being "set on a path of curiosity about how these conditions are connected and how the root cause can be reversed." Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, and their mother died of the disease in 2021. Another chapter of the book is titled "Trust Yourself, Not Your Doctor." 

Means is also the co-founder of Levels, a health app that can connect to glucose monitors.

 The surgeon general is considered the "Nation's Doctor," according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Their job includes giving Americans "the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury" by issuing advisories, calls to action and reports 

The surgeon general also oversees 6,000 members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, another part of HHS. 

Once confirmed by the Senate, the surgeon general serves a four-year term of office.

Means is a medical doctor, but she does not currently have a license to treat patients. 

Means attended the Stanford School of Medicine and graduated in 2024 as a distinguished scholar, according to the university. She went on to begin a residency in head and neck surgery, but departed the program without completing it and is not a surgeon. 

Means was granted a full medical license in Oregon in 2018, according to online records, and opened a functional medicine practice called Means Health. She has also worked in biomedical research. 

Her license has been "inactive" since 2024, according to online records. On her website, Means said the status change was voluntary because she "was not actively seeing patients."