President Trump fully embraced the MAHA movement (Make America Healthy Again) when he selected Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, to be his Health and Human Services Director.

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With his MAHA Dream Team in place. HHS Secretary Kennedy is poised to make significant changes to public health, tackle the nation’s chronic disease epidemic, take on the pharmaceutical industry’s influence, and protect Americans against the corruption of the industrial food complex.

Here are the doctors who will be helping Se. Kennedy in the fight for a healthier America:

Dr. Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D. Director of the National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is responsible for conducting and supporting medical and public health research. NIH’s goals are to enhance health, prevent disease, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. The NIH conducts its own research and provides grants to universities, hospitals, and other institutions. It is the largest public funder of medical research with a $50 billion budget.

As NIH Director, Dr. Bhattacharya will oversee the nation’s top research agency. “Under Dr. Bhattacharya’s leadership, NIH will restore its commitment to gold-standard science,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Dr. Bhattacharya was born in 1968 in Kolkata, India, to Hindu parents. As a young child, his family legally immigrated to the U.S., and he grew up in southern California. He converted to Christianity as a senior in high school. He received his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Stanford University, as well as his M.D. from Stanford. He is the first Indian American to lead the NIH.

He is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Mountain View, California, where he has served as a deacon and elder for 27 years. He is married to Dr. Catherine Su, a radiation oncologist, and has three children: daughter Jodie and sons Matthew and Benjamin.

Prior to becoming NIH Director, Dr. Bhattacharya was a professor of medicine, economics, and health research policy at Stanford University. His specialty is the economics of health care.

Great Barrington Declaration

Dr. Bhattacharya came to national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was one of the first public health specialists to question the World Health Organization’s (WHO) calculations of a 3.4% death rate for COVID-19, suggesting 11 million people in America could die. This number led to the extreme lockdowns enforced in much of the U.S.

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal in March of 2020, Dr. Bhattacharya called that number misleading because many mild cases were going undetected. He believed the death rate was far lower. He conducted studies to detect the uncounted infections. His studies revealed that COVID-19 was much more widespread than believed and the fatality rate was closer to 0.2% — far lower than the WHO’s estimate.

But the medical community, government health officials, and academia did not believe their findings… and the lockdowns continued.

In response, Dr. Bhattacharya, along with Martin Kulldorf, a biostatistician at Harvard Medical School, and Sunetra Gupta, an epidemiologist from Oxford, wrote what came to be known as the Great Barrington Declaration, outlining a pandemic response that focused not on lockdowns, but on protecting the high-risk population. They argued that those at low risk could resume normal life and build up immunity through natural infection. It was signed by more than 940,000 infectious disease epidemiologists and public health scientists from around the world.

Instead of conducting an honest and open debate, Dr. Anthony Fauci called the Declaration “dangerous” and “nonsense.” Dr. Francis Collins, NIH Director at the time, trashed the Declaration, calling for “a quick and devastating published takedown.” Social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook began suppressing Dr. Bhattacharya’s comments.

Today, the Great Barrington Declaration and Dr. Bhattacharya are hailed as pointing out many of the failures of state and federal governments in handling the pandemic. He became a hero to those who believed that public health officials had mismanaged the pandemic, stifled scientific debate, and based public health decisions on leftist policies, not empirical data.

In the presidential campaign, Dr. Bhattacharya spoke at Sec. Kennedy’s campaign rallies. The doctor questioned if giving the COVID-19 vaccine to young adults and children outweighed the risks of potential serious side effects. On May 27, Sec. Kennedy announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.

A Scientific Debate

Dr. Bhattacharya intends to create a more open culture of free speech at NIH, saying, “Dissent is the very essence of science.” His vision is for scientific institutions like NIH to be viewed as “non-political and devoted to improving people’s health and well-being.”

Dr. Bhattacharya is planning to focus NIH research more on chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, strokes, Alzheimer’s, and autism. “America’s health is going backwards,” he cautions. “We need to focus on the diseases and conditions that impact the broad number of Americans. Our obligation is to provide the research that improves their health.”

He calls the alignment between President Trump’s MAGA and Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA movements “incredible.” Both Pres. Trump and Sec. Kennedy care deeply about the health and well-being of regular American folks. Dr. Bhattacharya finds this administration’s commitment to research and good health very attractive and is proud to be a part of making it happen.

“I’m a Christian. I have a purpose in life, and I’m supposed to use my gifts for this purpose,” declares Dr. Bhattacharya as he brings his faith and integrity to the NIH.

Dr. Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H, Commissioner of Food & Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices, as well as ensuring the protection of our nation’s food supply. Its budget is nearly $7 billion.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Makary to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “He is a national leader in medicine with impeccable credentials. His extensive research, clinical experience, and national leadership make him uniquely qualified to lead the FDA as we work together to Make America Healthy Again.”

Dr. Makary was born in Liverpool, England, to Egyptian parents, and moved to the U.S. when he was a young child. The family settled in Pennsylvania. Dr. Makary received his Bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University, his Master’s in Public Health (M.P.H.) from Harvard, and his M.D. from Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Makary is a Coptic Christian.

Dr. Makary is an abdominal surgeon specializing in pancreatic surgery and a public policy researcher at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. He has long been an advocate for efforts to lower the cost of health care and reduce unnecessary procedures and medical errors.

A Medical Disruptor

Dr. Makary has been known as a disruptor and believes the medical establishment has been too entrenched in its traditions. He is a supporter of the use of alternative medicines, especially using food as medicine. He claims we are the most “over-medicated” generation in history.

“Maybe we need to treat more diabetes with cooking classes not just throwing insulin at people. Maybe we need to treat more high blood pressure by talking about the quality of one’s sleep and stress, not just throwing antihypertensives at people. Maybe we need to treat more childhood obesity by talking about school lunch programs, not just putting every kid on Ozempic,” he said.

He worries that every teenager will soon be on multiple medications if the medical establishment doesn’t change course. According to his website, his goal is to make health care “more reliable, holistic and coordinated.”

During the COVID pandemic, he was critical of the FDA. He opposed the vaccine mandates and the need for COVID-19 booster shots. In a 2021 op-ed for Fox News, Dr. Makary wrote, “COVID has given us a clear-eyed look at a broken Food and Drug Administration that’s mired in politics and red tape. Americans can now see why medical advances often move at turtle speed. We need fresh leadership at the FDA to change the culture at the agency and promote scientific advancement, not hinder it.

Dr. Makary is a best-selling author. His books include Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong and What It Means for Our Health, The Price We Pay: What Broke American Healthcare and How to Fix It, and Unaccountable: What Hospitals Won’t Tell You and How Transparency Can Revolutionize Health Care.

A Common-Sense Approach

Dr. Makary says that the FDA, under his leadership, will focus on “gold-standard science and common sense.” His goals include shortening the time for drugs to be approved by the FDA. “Why does it take over 10 years for a new drug to come to market? Why are we not modernized with AI and other things?” he asked.

The implementation of AI programs at the FDA is a top priority. Beginning at the end of June 2025, AI will summarize medical reviews, finishing in six minutes, which would take a human two to three days.

The FDA regulates about 80% of the world’s food supply. As such, he plans to address the impact of food on health, especially looking into the chemicals in food that are known to cause illness yet are labeled safe.

“Half of our nation’s children are sick and nobody has really been doing anything meaningful on this front until we got new momentum and enthusiasm from Secretary Kennedy and President Trump to finally address the root causes of these diseases,” he said.

Dr. Makary is pro-life, and there is hope that he will look into reversing the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, which is available by mail. It’s estimated that this pill accounts for 63% of the abortions in the U.S.

FDA Independence

Dr. Makary is intent on reducing the influence of the pharmaceutical industry and its ties to the FDA. In one of his first moves as FDA Commissioner, he removed their representatives from the FDA’s advisory committees and replaced them with patients and caregivers. “Public trust in the healthcare-industrial complex is at an all-time low. We need to restore impeccable integrity to the process and avoid potential conflicts of interest,” said Commissioner Makary.

“This is an exciting time at the FDA. We are streamlining and consolidating and also creating a great culture and workplace environment for our scientists and reviewers. It’s my job to assure the American people of the safety of their drugs and food,” Dr. Makary says.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, M.D. M.B.A., Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Medicare & Medicaid Services is the agency in charge of the government-run health insurance programs for over 150 million Americans. Dr. Oz leads the largest agency under HHS with a massive $1.7 trillion budget and will oversee policies that impact beneficiaries, physicians, hospitals, health care providers, and private health insurance.

“I am proud to welcome Dr. Oz as the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “Dr. Oz has proven himself as a trusted voice in health and wellness, both through his clinical expertise and his years of educating the public on television. His leadership and ability to communicate effectively will be invaluable as he takes the helm at CMS. Together, we are committed to Make America Healthy Again by combating fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid and ensuring that these programs truly serve the American people.”

Dr. Oz was born in 1960 in Cleveland, OH. He is the son of Turkish immigrants. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and obtained a joint M.D. and M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Wharton Business School. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon. Dr. Oz is married to Lisa, is the father of four children, and is the grandfather of five. He is a Muslim.

A Celebrity Doctor

In 2003, Dr. Oz began his TV career with his show, Second Opinion, on the Discovery Channel. He also regularly appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2009, Oprah offered Dr. Oz his own show, The Dr. Oz Show, which ran until January 2022. He faced criticism for promoting alternative and natural medicine on his show. He is also the author of eight best-selling books.

In 2018, President Trump named Dr. Oz to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to promote “programs and initiatives that motivate people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to lead active, healthy lives.”

During COVID-19, Dr. Oz became an informal advisor to President Trump, promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. In June 2020, the FDA pulled its emergency use authorization for its use against COVID-19. Dr Oz opposed the vaccine mandates and called for Dr. Fauci to be fired.

In 2022, Dr. Oz ran for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania as a conservative Republican. He lost the election to Democrat John Fetterman.

Dr. Oz’s Goals at CMS

As CMS Administrator, Dr. Oz is focused on modernizing Medicare and Medicaid. His priorities include:

• reducing health care spending by improving poor health,
• promoting healthier lifestyle choices
• providing Americans with information they need about health costs
• streamlining access to life-saving treatments
• safeguarding the financial health of Medicaid
• increasing use of technology
• and stopping wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse.

He supports adding work requirements to Medicaid. In one of his first actions as CMS Administrator, he ended Medicaid dollars being used for gender reassignment surgeries.

“Great societies protect their most vulnerable,” says Dr. Oz. “As stewards of the health of so many Americans… the CMS team is dedicated to delivering superior health outcomes across each program we administer. America is too great for small dreams, and I’m ready to get to work on the President’s agenda,” promises Dr. Oz.

A Prayer for the MAHA Team

Lord, you are the great Healer and Heavenly Physician. We pray for these men of science and medicine to seek Your face and Your wisdom. May they uncover the lies and corruption of the medical industrial complex and make the much-needed changes within our healthcare system to restore energy, vitality, and health to our citizens. We pray that they stay strong and that there will be no compromise when it comes to the health and well-being of Americans.

Lord, strengthen them as they take on the challenges of an entrenched Big Pharma, Big Ag, and the Deep State who do not want to give up their profits and control over our healthcare system. We ask that you bless their work. May they never tire of doing good. Keep them honest and from any corruption. May they never flinch in the face of unholy criticism pressure or fear, but always turn to You for strength and moral courage.

Lord, protect them and their families from all harm and temptation – physical, emotional, or spiritual. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Add your own prayers for the MAHA team in the comments.

Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Molly Riley.