A new revelation about President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Surgeon General brings a decades-old family tragedy into the spotlight.
According to the New York Post, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, who was recently nominated for the position of Surgeon General, was involved in an accidental shooting that claimed her father's life when she was 13 years old.
The incident occurred in February 1990 at their Umatilla, Florida home, when Nesheiwat was searching for scissors in a tackle box above her father's bed.
The box fell, causing a .380 caliber handgun to discharge, fatally wounding her father, Ziad "Ben" Nesheiwat, who was sleeping at the time. He was pronounced dead the following day at an Orlando hospital.
In her 2017 memoir "Beyond the Stethoscope," Nesheiwat addressed her father's death as a pivotal moment that inspired her medical career. However, she never publicly revealed the circumstances of his death or her involvement in the tragic accident.
In the memoir, Nesheiwat wrote:
When I was 13 years old I helplessly watched my dear father dying from an accident as blood was spurting everywhere. I couldn't save his life. This was the start of my personal journey in life to become a physician.
The loss profoundly impacted her family, with her mother, Hayat Nesheiwat, a pediatric nurse, becoming the family's pillar of strength following the tragedy.
Dr. Nesheiwat has built an impressive medical career, focusing on practical medicine and emergency response. She has worked on the frontlines during natural disasters and served as the medical director for CityMD, overseeing urgent care clinics across New York and New Jersey.
President-elect Trump expressed his confidence in Nesheiwat's capabilities, stating:
Her expertise and leadership have been pivotal during some of the most challenging Healthcare crises of our time.
The nomination is especially significant because Nesheiwat's family has maintained close ties to the Trump administration. Her sister Julie previously served as a homeland security adviser during Trump's first term.
The resurfacing of this tragic incident provides context to Dr. Nesheiwat's dedication to medicine and emergency care. Her experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly her frontline work in New York City, has been highlighted as a key qualification for the Surgeon General position.
Dr. Nesheiwat's path from tragedy to potential Surgeon General represents a remarkable journey in American healthcare leadership. While the accidental shooting that claimed her father's life remained private for decades, it shaped her commitment to saving lives and pursuing a career in medicine.
Her nomination as Surgeon General comes at a crucial time when the nation faces ongoing healthcare challenges. The Trump administration emphasizes her experience and leadership qualities as essential components of their healthcare agenda.
