Evelyn Griffin

Evelyn Griffin, 49, is the new Surgeon General of Louisiana, appointed by Governor Jeff Landry in December. She has been tasked with transforming public health in the state, which has the worst health outcomes among states.

Background

Griffin is an OB-GYN with no background or specialty training in infectious diseases or public health. She has been aligned with alternative health movements, including Make America Healthy Again, and has hosted speakers promoting fringe medical views. Griffin's rise to prominence began when she testified at the Louisiana Statehouse five years ago, opposing the addition of covid vaccines to the school immunization schedule.

Public Health Views

Griffin has expressed skepticism about government mandates and vaccine safety. She has cited her family background, having been born in Poland and immigrated to Canada, as influencing her views on medical freedom. Griffin has also pursued online training in functional medicine and has studied how nutrition and lifestyle choices can treat and prevent illness. She has been criticized by public health experts, including Georges Benjamin, the chief executive of the American Public Health Association, who has said that Griffin's views are "very dangerous".

Career

Griffin's career as a physician has spanned 20 years, delivering babies and treating women. She has been described as a kind, caring, and smart physician by people who have known her. However, her views on public health have been controversial, and she has faced hurdles in her efforts to tighten access to vaccines and limit public health powers. Griffin has testified on several bills that legislators rejected, including one that would have expanded access to ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug popular among vaccine skeptics.

Future Plans

Griffin has signaled big ambitions for her tenure as Surgeon General, calling for "dramatic transformational change" in public health. She has promised to focus on women's health, rural health, and the root causes of disease. Griffin's plans have been met with skepticism by some public health experts, who warn that her views could lead to an escalation of illnesses and deaths in Louisiana. According to Kirk Milhoan, a pastor and pediatric cardiologist, Griffin is an "excellent choice" for Surgeon General, and her heart's desire is to take care of the population of Louisiana. Griffin's vision for public health in Louisiana will be closely watched, as the state struggles to improve its poor health outcomes. The Louisiana health department, under Griffin's leadership, will likely face challenges in implementing her vision, and the outcome of her efforts will have significant implications for the state's public health.