“A healthy person has a thousand wishes, a sick person just one.”
As a physician and a U.S. senator, I have dedicated my career to improving the health of Americans. Yet, our health care system is failing. Over 60 percent of Americans suffer from chronic diseases, and 20 percent of our children are on prescription drugs. Despite pouring money into the system, American health outcomes have declined for decades. It’s clear that our current approach isn’t working. Our health care system has become “sick care” — focused on treating diseases rather than preventing them.
Without radical changes, Americans’ health will continue to deteriorate, Medicare will face insolvency sooner, and insurance premiums will skyrocket. A stronger, healthier future is possible, but it requires bold leadership. We need someone to bring innovation and transformation to the heart of our health care system. I firmly believe that President Trump’s nominee to lead Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is the right person for the job.
After meeting Kennedy last year, I was convinced he has the vision and courage to bring about the change our health care system desperately needs. Kennedy is committed to ensuring all Americans have access to nutrient-dense whole foods, safe medicines, and effective primary care. He also aims to address the mental health crisis affecting our youth and young adults.
As an OB-GYN, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of a healthy diet and exercise on long-term patient outcomes. While I don’t agree with Kennedy on everything, no one agrees with their colleagues 100 percent of the time. In my medical practice, doctors often debated treatment decisions. That’s how science works — through questioning, reviewing, and challenging available studies, combined with the common sense gained from years of experience.
Kennedy’s opponents often focus on his vaccine skepticism, but this distracts from the bigger picture. He has made it clear he won’t change vaccine policy. Instead, he will ensure that every medical intervention, including vaccines, is rigorously studied, with results openly shared — something every doctor and parent should support. And when we don’t know something, we will admit it.
Skeptics who fixate solely on vaccines miss the larger issue: chronic disease is the No. 1 health crisis in America today. For decades, we’ve treated diseases instead of preventing them. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” plan shifts our focus to common-sense nutrition and reducing exposure to harmful toxins in our food, water, and air.
Kennedy and I agree that medical interventions must always be scrutinized to ensure they are necessary, safe, and effective. This means holding the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accountable for studying the risks, benefits, efficacy, and side effects of vaccines — just as we do for all other drugs. Parents and doctors deserve clear, unbiased data to make informed decisions together.
Science is not as “settled” as we often assume. History is filled with medical consensus that was later proven wrong. Smoking was once advertised as healthy and even promoted by doctors. Low-fat diets were pushed for heart health while the real culprits were ignored. Stomach ulcers were blamed on stress until we discovered they were often caused by bacteria. And the USDA Food Pyramid, which promoted excessive carbohydrates, led to a surge in obesity and diabetes.
The list goes on. If we never questioned settled science, we’d still be prescribing bed rest for back pain. Kennedy understands that preventing disease requires challenging old assumptions. He will shift HHS’ focus from managing illness to promoting health. He has launched a health revolution, empowering a generation of young, informed Americans to take control of their health and lead the change they want to see.
Just as Trump was elected because Americans wanted a disruptor, I believe Kennedy is the disruptor our health care system needs. He will redirect NIH, CDC, Medicare, and Medicaid from a disease-treatment mindset to one focused on prevention. This isn’t complicated — it’s common sense.
It’s time to stop debating and start making America healthy again. We can change the tide by tackling chronic disease at its roots. Making America healthy again means building a healthier future for ourselves, our children, and generations to come. If we are serious about this goal, we need bold leadership willing to challenge the status quo. I believe Kennedy is that leader.
