Be warned: Dancing might just lead to unexpected fun, according to the Surgeon General. “Staying active and fit is essential for maintaining balance,” Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, the newly appointed U.S. Surgeon General, shared with The Post. Appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Haridopolos, at 53, is no stranger to the benefits of movement.
With a background that includes a stint with a professional from “Dancing with the Stars” and a viral video of flips set to the Bee Gees alongside former “Dance Fever” host Deney Terrio, Haridopolos brings a unique perspective to her new role. The 2010 dance routine she performed with Terrio has captivated over a quarter of a million YouTube viewers.
Although she hasn’t graced the main stage of “Dancing with the Stars,” Haridopolos recently showcased her moves with Pasha Pashkov, a veteran dancer from the show. Her appearance at the 2023 Dancing for the Space Coast fundraiser featured her in a dazzling silver sequined mini dress, complete with tassels, as she danced to the Latin boogaloo hit “I Like it Like That.”
Kennedy’s decision to elevate Haridopolos to the position of “Nation’s Doctor” follows the collapse of Casey Means’ nomination, which faced opposition from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The role of Surgeon General had been vacant throughout Trump’s second term.
Haridopolos, who began her medical career as a primary care physician in Melbourne, Florida, has been a trusted voice in health discussions. In 2010, she was sought out by Tampa’s local TV stations for her insights, such as when an airline refused to refund tickets for passengers with the H1N1 flu virus.
Haridopolos, a primary care physician who started her practice in Melbourne, FL, was a go-to source on local TV health reports in Tampa, where she was quoted in 2010 speaking about an airline that refused to refund cancelled tickets for people with the H1N1 flu virus.
“I cringe. Policies need to be adjusted to our current times,” she said — long before the current administration had to arrange plans for battling the Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks.
She is married to US Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL).
Haridopolos described her role as “performing some of the duties of the surgeon general.” The office’s latest advisory, on screen time in schools, names only Health and Human Services Department staff.
“We have been really very fruitful and productive from the Office of the Surgeon General. I just think people didn’t pay attention to it because there wasn’t a principal in place,” she said.
The samba-loving bureaucrat can’t get too comfortable in her role. President Trump’s new nominee, Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News contributor and Trump’s third nominee, will waltz into the post if she gets confirmed by the Senate. But for now the Senate Health committee’s dance card is full, with no hearing scheduled.
