GOP Senate candidate Mehmet Oz is greeted by former president Donald Trump at a rally to support local candidates at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sept. 3, 2022 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
A graduate of Harvard University, Oz received medical and business degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former heart surgeon who saw his fame rise through his appearances on daytime television, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and 13 seasons of "The Dr. Oz Show."
Oz later transitioned into politics, launching an unsuccessful bid for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat in 2022. He lost to John Fetterman, then the state's lieutenant governor.
Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz speaks at a campaign rally ahead of the midterm elections in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, Nov. 7, 2022. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
"Dr. Oz has a strong desire to modernize CMS and encourage healthy lifestyles for all Americans, including by focusing on the underlying causes of chronic disease and implementing innovative technologies," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said Thursday.
Crapo, who led Oz's nomination process at the committee level, commended Oz for his "diligence and accessibility" throughout the process, including his willingness to answer "hundreds" of questions for the record.
Those questions came from both Republicans and Democrats. They included asking about Oz's stance on abortion, transgender medical treatments, Medicare privatization, prescription drug pricing and more. Potential financial conflicts of interest were also a concern among Democratic lawmakers throughout Oz's confirmation process. Oz has committed to divesting any holdings that may pose an issue.
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Thursday's confirmation comes as the Trump administration continues to work to finalize the rest of its political appointments, including notably the president's pick to be the next United Nations ambassador and his pick for director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Per The Washington Post's "political appointee tracker," there are currently still 233 nominees being considered by the Senate.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dr-oz-becomes-next-head-medicare-medicaid-services-following-approval-from-full-senate