President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the U.S. surgeon general, Janette Nesheiwat, MD, is facing scrutiny regarding her qualifications for the position, CBS News reported April 24.
Here are 10 things to know about Dr. Nesheiweat and the pushback against her nomination:
1. Dr. Neisheweat is a self-described double board-certified physician with a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in Little Rock. She is also a contributor to Fox News.
2. However, according to CBS, Dr. Nesheiwat actually earned her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten. A spokesperson for the University of Arkansas confirmed to CBS that she completed her family medicine residency through its program in Fayetteville, Ark., but did not obtain her medical degree there.
3. Dr. Neisheweat is yet to appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for her confirmation hearing.
4. CBS reported that Dr. Neisheweat’s LinkedIn profile incorrectly lists her MD as being obtained from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, with no mention of AUC. In at least one instance on social media, according to the report, she has referenced attending “American University” for her education, without clarifying that it was not American University in Washington, D.C., which does not have a medical school. In that same post, she claimed that she completed her medical training at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London.
5. AUC’s medical degree is generally a four-year program, consisting of two years of classroom training in St. Maarten and the following two years of clinical rotations at a medical facility. AUC has a partnership with St. Thomas & Guy Hospital.
6. According to AUC, Dr. Neisheweat was enrolled at the school for six years, from 2000 to 2006.
7. CBS writes that this longer enrollment period “reflects broader concerns that have drawn federal attention in recent years and fueled stigma against medical schools in the Caribbean, which are sometimes considered a last resort for students who couldn’t qualify for a U.S. medical school.” Graduates of these schools, along with the schools themselves, “strongly dispute that assessment,” according to the report.
8. Sens. Dick Durban and Bill Cassidy have recently introduced a bill in several congressional sessions with the goal of closing a loophole that allowed certain Caribbean medical schools, including AUC, to bypass standards applied to other foreign institutions. This loophole allowed the schools to remain eligible for federal funds, despite lower on-time graduation rates.
9. Questions were also raised about Dr. Neisheweat’s claim of being double board-certified, including on her own website. CBS has only been able to verify her certification in family medicine, and the American Board of Medical Specialties told CBS that the only certification they had for her was for family medicine.
10. After completing her residency, Dr. Neisheweat began working at CityMD, an urgent care provider in New York and New Jersey. She has been described in various media appearances and press materials as a “medical director,” “CityMD Medical Director for emergency and family medicine,” and a “medical director at CityMD.” Her website describes her as “the Medical Director at CityMed.” CBS reached out to CityMD for clarification and received comment from the company’s COO, stating that “She is an exceptional physician who truly stands out,” but did not clarify her job title or role at the company.
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