With President Donald Trump returning to the White House, many American doctors welcome the new administration's increased focus on health and wellness.
According to its website, the Making America Healthy Again (MAHA) program, led by incoming Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to improve nutrition, eliminate toxins, protect Natural habitats and combating the chronic disease epidemic.
Several doctors shared with Fox News Digital their hopes and expectations for the next four years in terms of health.
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As Trump takes back the White House, Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Mark Siegel said he expects an increased focus on mental health.
President Donald Trump leaves the indoor presidential inauguration parade in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP Newsroom)
"The mental health epidemic is getting worse, including among our youth," he told Fox News Digital, adding that "social media overreach" is exacerbating the problem.
“The best approach is to be connected and get back to a time when community and family were first,” said Siegel, who is also a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health. "I hope President Trump will emphasize that."
“The best way to do that is to connect and get back to a time when communities and families came first.”
The doctor is also optimistic that the new government will focus on pandemic preparedness based on lessons learned from COVID-19.
In particular, Siegel said he would like to see more surveillance, advances in biotechnology and the use of artificial intelligence to track threats.
Segal predicts that personalized medicine will also become a focus of the Trump White House as the use of wearable devices increases.
Segal predicts that personalized medicine will also become a focus of the Trump White House as the use of wearable devices increases. (CyberGuy.com)
"We can save hundreds of billions of dollars by having DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) and HHS address health care instead of disease care," Siegel said.
"The focus will be on health, lifestyle, exercise and diet," as well as "the war on ultra-processed foods," he added.
Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician and diabetes specialist in Tennessee, told Fox News Digital that he hopes Trump's presidency will be "a new golden age of American health."
"For too long, the practice of medicine has been tainted by corporate profits, questionable research, silencing of physicians and misleading statements to the public," said Berry, who helps patients overcome obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
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Berry continued: “I would like to see a thoughtful re-evaluation of all existing research, a restoration of the unimpeded doctor-patient relationship, an end to direct-to-consumer drug advertising, and an end to misleading health claims by big food companies. ".
The doctor also encouraged "vigorous efforts" to educate Americans about truly healthy food and lifestyle choices, as well as "a renewed appreciation for the idea that health and happiness are not only achievable but desirable."
Dr. Robert Lufkin, a California physician and professor of medicine at UCLA and the University of Southern California, applauded the new administration's goals to address the rise in chronic diseases, which include focusing on lifestyle factors and chemical exposure.
"I'm excited about the health actions this administration is likely to take across multiple areas," he shared with Fox News Digital.
One doctor says he hopes President Trump will emphasize the connections between families and communities. (iStock)
In particular, Lufkin said the new administration aims to "prioritize research on environmental triggers such as pesticides, industrial pollutants and food additives."
"They also plan to advocate for transparency in corporate behavior and tighter regulation of industries that contribute to environmental degradation," he added.
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Lufkin also emphasized MAHA's goals of improving food safety and nutrition and reducing exposure to unhealthy substances.
"This can be accomplished by regulating harmful ingredients in processed foods, such as artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup and chemical additives," he said.
Lufkin also supports the government's goals to limit unhealthy food in public assistance programs and encourage local and sustainable agriculture.
One doctor noted that shifting the focus of the healthcare system from treatment to prevention is an important part of MAHA's agenda. (iStock)
Shifting the focus of the healthcare system from treatment to prevention is another important part of MAHA's agenda, the doctor noted.
He noted that this could involve expanding alternative and holistic therapies and educating the public on the importance of lifestyle changes, including exercise, proper nutrition and stress management.
"Another goal is to minimize reliance on medications and encourage the use of natural remedies and non-drug interventions for common conditions," Lufkin said.
The doctor also applauded the new government's plans to crack down on corporate influence in health care and "examine the values of the pharmaceutical and chemical industries that put profits ahead of public health."
Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in Scottsdale, Arizona, said she hopes the Trump administration will continue to strengthen policies that increase price transparency among clinics, hospitals, health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies.
"Hidden prices that have been manipulated many times have allowed Americans to be overcharged and exploited for profit, whether it's a 1,000% markup on generic drugs or a $5,000 trip to the emergency room for dehydration," she told Fox News Digital.
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She noted that in many cases, prices are "inherently hidden and manipulated," meaning consumers don't know the cost basis or true value of the service.
"I'm seeing more and more price manipulation to make it look like health insurance is paying for services when in fact they're increasing the cost of services," she said.
"For example, if I pay cash for a mammogram, it's cheaper than using health insurance," Johnson continued. "The same is true for generic drugs."
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., says the Trump administration has a "wonderful opportunity" to address America's growing mental health crisis
"I firmly believe the Trump administration has an opportunity and a responsibility to address mental health issues in a way that helps people build resilience, rather than just pandering to political or cultural trends," he told Fox News Digital.
The Trump administration has a "wonderful opportunity" to address America's growing mental health crisis, a psychotherapist says. (iStock)
Alpert said one of his biggest concerns is that “woke” culture could inadvertently trigger a mental health crisis.
“While it’s important to validate emotions and acknowledge systemic challenges, there is a growing trend to overpathologize normal human struggles and promote victimhood,” Alpert said.
Alpert called for a focus on responsibility and personal growth rather than "an overemphasis on personal trauma or identity-based grievances."
“We need policies that foster self-reliance and resilience while still providing support for those who are truly struggling.”
"We need policies that foster self-reliance and mental toughness while still providing support for those who are truly struggling," he said.
Alpert said that in the Trump administration, he would like to see a commitment to mental health initiatives that promote support and personal responsibility.
“Not every challenge is traumatic, not every disagreement is harmful, and not every failure stems from systemic oppression.” (iStock)
"This includes improving access to treatment, but also addressing how social media, divisive rhetoric and identity politics impact young people's sense of self-worth and mental health," he said.
“There is a real danger in letting cultural narratives dictate how we treat mental health, turning it into a political battleground rather than a space for growth.”
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“Not every challenge is trauma, not every disagreement is harmful, and not every failure stems from systemic oppression,” Alpert continued.
The psychotherapist said therapy should not encourage victims to become victims but should help people take control of their lives, develop resilience and thrive in the face of adversity.
Dr. Brett Osborne, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert, said that as Donald Trump takes office, the United States is looking forward to "dramatic improvements in public health" from his administration.
"A key expectation is to work on reforming health care policy to make it more accessible and affordable," he told Fox News Digital.
Physicians support MAHA's goals of improving food safety and nutrition and reducing exposure to unhealthy substances. (iStock)
“This could involve promoting competition in health care markets (thus lowering insurance premiums), increasing price transparency at the hospital level, and expanding coverage to ensure families of all income levels receive adequate care.”
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Osborne also wants the government to tackle obesity by incentivizing healthier food choices, clearer nutrition labelling, and supporting physical activity initiatives in schools.
“Additionally, addressing food availability issues in underserved areas can promote better access to fresh, nutritious food and reduce diet-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease,” he added.
"Without health at the individual and national levels, the country will continue to falter."
Another expectation, Osborne said, is an emphasis on preventive care rather than reactive care.
"Encouraging regular health screenings to identify risk factors for disease and supporting health education campaigns can significantly reduce the burden of preventable disease," he said.
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Ultimately, Osborne continued, it's possible that the new government will prioritize health — "not just as a policy issue but as a cornerstone of national prosperity."
"Without health on an individual and national level, the country will continue to falter," the doctor said.
"Yet, as President Trump said in his inaugural address, 'From this moment on, America's decline is over.'"