Stephanie Haridopolos named Chief of Staff to U.S. Surgeon General
Stephanie Haridopolos. Image via USF.

steph-hero-template-final
'This has been a lifelong journey for me and I feel like I was meant to be here.'

Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos was just named as Acting Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the U.S. Surgeon General.

“In my new position, I’ll continue my work with public health, but on the federal level,” she said.

The Florida physician had recently been honored as the University of South Florida’s 2024 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health.

Haridopolos in 2023 led an effort to increase eligibility for Florida KidCare from 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. Before that, she was heavily involved in lobbying for Florida’s pill mill law.

“Getting involved in statewide health policy has driven me to help more people,’’ she said. “When the opportunity arose with this administration, I felt that the stars were aligned for me to take all this experience I had on the front lines and funnel it into a federal position. That’s why I’m here.’’

Trump earlier named Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a graduate of Umatilla High School, as U.S. Surgeon General.

Haridopolos in her new role will promote the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a group of 5,400 multidisciplinary officers working in the federal government to protect, promote and advance the nation’s health.

She said personal health issues as a child attracted her to the field.

“I was born with an atrial septal defect and had surgery in 1976 when I was 4 years old,’’ she said.

“So, I set my north star early in life and never deviated from it. I never take my health for granted because I started out as a very sick child. I do everything I can to lead a purpose-driven life. I started out life as a patient, and so I was always looking through the lens of a patient. The experience I had as a child created in me a yearning to give back something greater than myself. So, this has been a lifelong journey for me and I feel like I was meant to be here.”

She also runs a medical practice in Melbourne.

Her husband, Mike Haridopolos, last year won election to Congress. He previously served as Florida Senate President. The couple has three children.

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


2 comments

  • Frank Tillis

    May 6, 2025 at 3:07 pm

    This is so swampy it oozes with slime and flies.
    She will parlay this into a lucrative lobbying job and I guess a small price to pay is faking you love Mr. Haridopolos. Claire Underwood would be proud.

  • Jen .

    May 9, 2025 at 5:49 am

    She is incredibly skilled, educated and exactly what our country needs for this role. I’ve seen her work for decades and it has always been for the better of patients, community, state and now at the Federal level. Together they are making our nation stronger and better for the future. They have a huge support system behind them. Your comments are idiotic and unwarranted. Let them work and move our nation forward. I won’t waste my time responding again.

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, Liam Fineout, A.G. Gancarski, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Andrew Powell, Jesse Scheckner, Janelle Taylor, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704