President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Surgeon General, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, has drawn significant attention, not only for her professional achievements but also for a harrowing incident from her youth. At age 13, Nesheiwat was involved in a tragic accident that claimed her father’s life—a moment that deeply shaped her personal and professional journey.
Announcing her nomination, Trump praised Nesheiwat as a “fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health,” adding that she is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare. Nesheiwat, a medical director for CityMD and a frequent contributor to Fox News, is a prominent figure in the healthcare sector.
However, her nomination has sparked controversy due to her past endorsements of COVID-19 policies and resurfacing details about the accidental shooting of her father, Ziad “Ben” Nesheiwat, when she was a teenager.
In 1990, at their Orlando home, 13-year-old Janette Nesheiwat was searching for scissors in her father’s bedroom when an accidental discharge from a handgun in a tipped-over tackle box fatally wounded her sleeping father.
According to police reports, the .38-caliber handgun discharged, hitting her father in the head. Despite her immediate efforts to help—retrieving a towel and ice to attend to his wound—her father succumbed to his injuries the following day. The incident was ruled accidental by investigators, who described it as a “freak accident.”
In her police statement, Nesheiwat recalled the terrifying moment: “Something fell out of [the tackle box] and there was a loud noise. I saw blood on my father’s ear.”
This traumatic event had a profound impact on Nesheiwat. In her 2017 memoir, Beyond the Stethoscope, she recounted losing her father as a formative experience, though she omitted the details of her involvement. “When I was 13 years old, I helplessly watched my dear father dying from an accident as blood was spurting everywhere,” she wrote. “This was the start of my personal journey in life to become a physician and enter the world of healing arts.”
Despite the tragedy, Nesheiwat built a remarkable career in medicine, becoming a strong advocate for public health and preventive care. She gained national recognition for her medical expertise and her ability to communicate complex health issues effectively.
However, Nesheiwat’s support for strict COVID-19 measures during the pandemic has alienated parts of Trump’s conservative base. She advocated for mask mandates, vaccination campaigns, and the role of social media in curbing misinformation. At the time, she described these policies as “necessary tools to protect public health.”
In the years since, Nesheiwat has attempted to recalibrate her stance, criticizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its vaccine rollout missteps and mandates that disproportionately affected children. “As more data came in, it became clear that some policies were not in the best interest of all Americans, particularly our children,” she said in a recent interview.
For some, this shift represents a pragmatic evolution in her views. For others, it raises concerns about her judgment and consistency, particularly in a role that demands a steadfast commitment to public trust and individual freedoms.
Nesheiwat’s nomination comes at a pivotal moment for the U.S. healthcare system. Trump’s decision to appoint her as Surgeon General reflects a balance between her expertise and her ability to communicate effectively with the public.
However, critics argue that Nesheiwat’s earlier positions on pandemic policies may undermine her credibility. Her endorsement of measures that many conservatives viewed as government overreach has drawn sharp criticism from those who fear she may not fully align with the values of the incoming administration.
Adding to the controversy is the resurfacing of the 1990 accident. While the incident was ruled accidental, its emotional weight and Nesheiwat’s decision to omit her role in her memoir have raised questions about transparency.
For Nesheiwat, the tragedy of her father’s death has been both a burden and a catalyst. Her journey from a grieving teenager to a national medical leader highlights her resilience and dedication to healthcare. “That moment shaped my entire life,” she said in a 2018 interview. “I wanted to ensure that no one else had to feel as helpless as I did that day.”
While her critics focus on her pandemic policies and personal history, her supporters emphasize her qualifications and passion for public health. They argue that Nesheiwat’s unique combination of personal tragedy and professional experience positions her to bring empathy and expertise to the role of Surgeon General.
As Nesheiwat prepares for confirmation hearings, she will need to address both her controversial pandemic stances and the personal tragedy that has resurfaced in the public eye. How she navigates these challenges may determine not only her future as Surgeon General but also the tone of Trump’s healthcare agenda.
With critics questioning her judgment and supporters praising her resilience, Nesheiwat’s nomination serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in public service. Whether her personal and professional journey will inspire confidence or skepticism remains to be seen.
For now, the nation watches closely as Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, shaped by loss and driven by purpose, steps into the spotlight of one of America’s most scrutinized roles.
She is very wishy-washy and we can do much better! She was not solidly against the Jabs and subsequent government Mandates to control people and step on their basic rights! She is a Solid NO from me and President Trump has to do better than this to accomplish the many massive feats of correction needed throughout our failing Nation in Crisis! Maybe he still is listening to some RINO or is slipping in his insights; whatever it is, it has to improve quickly.
These indicators from her already demonstrate to me how she could be influenced by nefarious influences seeking to manipulate her!
The old adage a pretty face can sometimes hide an evil mind or heart!
She had access to other doc.s, info etc but blindly agreed, followed Fraudci/CDC. Wishy Washy. Doctors who do no research or check into before pushing the controversial policies by Biden, Fraudci etc. Not to be fully trusted. Has she learned? Could have been a voice against the madness. Checked with Dr. Peter McCullough and the others who were out there trying to get facts etc. out. Has she come out now against jab? Helping the jabbed injured etc? I would def sign a petition for her to drop out or/and for her placement/better Surg Gen. One who stood ground during virus…. Fraudci released (allegedly). My UofMN transplant docs are STILL pushing the jab!!!! This must be stopped and all involved, complacent, purposeful blindly following, should be held accountable….face some kind of reprimand, fines, licenses pulled or ??? She pushed for kid jabs, Preg women, masks etc. She has worn masks before plandemic! and knows full well their limitations etc. Shame on her. When was her newfound change of ‘heart,’ recently? before or after injuries, sudden deaths etc. Did she stand up strong once her eyes were opened? or just recently? Has she gone back onto Fox voicing the error of her ways? Admitting she was wrong/just another pawn, fell for narratives? Too many ?s need to be answered to even be considered imo. (if the dems love her, then you bet we have a prob.) Don Jr. has a rumble acct. Maybe voice concerns to him? there?
Irishgal, agreed 100% and you’ve nailed it down excellently!
Her along with far too many doctors have failed in a cardinal tenet * (see below) and I fear many through willful ignorance or even worse negligent behavior to protect their own bottom-line just like Big Pharma, Hospitals and Gov. Officials did and still do after the plan-demic; were just as culpable!
“The Hippocratic Oath is an oath of ethics historically taken by physicians. It is one of the most widely known of Greek medical texts. In its original form, it requires a new physician to swear, by a number of healing gods, to uphold specific ethical standards. The oath is the earliest expression of medical ethics in the Western world, establishing several principles of medical ethics which remain of paramount significance today. These include the principles of medical confidentiality and non-maleficence. As the foundational articulation of certain principles that continue to guide and inform medical practice, the ancient text is of more than historic and symbolic value. It is enshrined in the legal statutes of various jurisdictions, such that violations of the oath may carry criminal or other liability beyond the oath’s symbolic nature.” (wikipedia)