Brevard County’s Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos Tapped to Carry Out Duties of U.S. Surgeon General

Dr. Haridopolos will carrying out many of the duties of the Surgeon General on behalf of the American people

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed Stephanie Haridopolos, the top staffer in the Office of the Surgeon General, to serve as interim surgeon general until the role is filled by a Senate-confirmed nominee.

WASHINGTON, DC — Brevard County’s Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, a senior official in the Office of the Surgeon General, has been tapped to carry out many of the duties of the nation’s surgeon general.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that Haridopolos will assume expanded responsibilities under a delegation of authority issued by Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brian Christine.

“Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brian Christine, MD, is using his delegation of authority powers to allow Dr. Haridopolos to begin carrying out many of the duties of the Surgeon General on behalf of the American people,” an HHS spokesperson said.

“She will promote OSG public health actions, advisories, and guidance until the next Surgeon General is sworn into office.”

Haridopolos currently serves as director of national communications, chief of staff, and senior adviser in the Office of the Surgeon General.

Bloomberg first reported the expanded role, citing an internal email sent by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to department staff.

The surgeon general position has remained vacant throughout President Donald Trump’s second administration after multiple nominees failed to secure Senate confirmation.

Trump’s first two selections, Janette Nesheiwat and Casey Means, did not advance through the confirmation process.

Haridopolos, a family physician in Brevard County by training, previously played a significant role in health policy efforts in Florida before joining the federal government.

She helped lead an initiative to expand eligibility for subsidized health insurance coverage under Florida KidCare, increasing the eligibility range from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level for children.

In comments previously shared with the University of South Florida, Haridopolos said her experience shaping health policy motivated her to pursue a larger role at the federal level.

“Getting involved in statewide health policy has driven me to help more people,” Haridopolos said.

“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.”

Haridopolos has also spoken publicly about how her personal medical history influenced her career path.

Born with an atrial septal defect — a congenital heart defect involving a hole between the chambers of the heart — she said her experiences as a patient shaped her perspective as a physician.

“I started out life as a patient, and so I was always looking through the lens of a patient,” Haridopolos told USF. “The experience I had as a child created in me a yearning to give back something greater than myself.”

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