**Dr. Mehmet Oz Appointed to Lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by Trump**

In a noteworthy appointment, President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Trump expressed his confidence in Oz's abilities, saying, "I have known Dr. Oz for many years, and I am confident he will fight to ensure everyone in America receives the best possible Healthcare, so our Country can be Great and Healthy Again!"

Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and popular television personality, gained national attention through his TV talk show, "The Dr. Oz Show," which started in 2009. The show, which enjoyed significant viewership and won several daytime Emmy awards, made Oz a household name. Before his latest appointment, Oz ran a Senate campaign in Pennsylvania in 2022 under Trump's endorsement but lost to Democratic candidate John Fetterman.

Trump previously recognized Oz’s influence and expertise when he appointed him to the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition in 2018, a position to which he was reappointed in 2020. However, Oz has often found himself at the center of controversy, particularly regarding his views on Covid-19. He was an early promoter of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the virus, despite scant scientific evidence supporting its efficacy.

Interestingly, Oz’s political stance has at times diverged from typical Republican positions. Before his Senate run, he was a proponent of health insurance mandates and supported Obamacare, which stirred discussions in party lines. Notably, he was quoted in 2009 by The Seattle Times advocating for mandatory healthcare coverage for all Americans and government-provided care for those unable to afford it.

Despite his media fame and political activities, Oz has faced scrutiny from the medical community. In 2015, a group of doctors wrote to Columbia University expressing their concern over his faculty position, and in 2014, he was reprimanded by senators for promoting weight-loss products on his show.

Now, as he steps into this critical healthcare role, the public and professionals alike will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how Dr. Oz addresses the nation's pressing healthcare challenges.