Stephanie Haridopolos

Stephanie Haridopolos
Official portrait, 2025
Director of National Health Communications, Office of the Surgeon General
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 20, 2026
PresidentDonald Trump
Personal details
BornStephanie Eleanor Bressan
1973 or 1972 (age 53–54)
New York, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse(s)
First husband
​
(divorced)​

​
(m. 2005)​
EducationStetson University (BS)
American University of the Caribbean (MD)

Stephanie Eleanor Haridopolos[1] (née Bressan; born 1972/1973)[2][3] is an American physician and public health official who has worked for the US Office of Surgeon General since 2025. The current presidential administration led by Donald Trump has not confirmed a Surgeon General. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr has delegated some responsibilities to Haridopolos and appointed her director of health communications.[4][5][6]

Early life and career

Stephanie Eleanor Bressan was born in New York in 1972 or 1973 to Fred and Angela Schneider. At age four, she had open heart surgery to repair a defect; she moved to South Florida with her mother three years later, after her parents divorced.[2] She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry (as a member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon and the Mortar Board)[7][8] with a minor in biology from Stetson University in 1994 and a Doctor of Medicine from the American University of the Caribbean in 1998, and completed her residency in family medicine from Albany Medical Center in 2001 or 2002.[1][9][10]

In 2017, Governor Rick Scott appointed her to the Florida Board of Medicine.[11] In December 2018, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis appointed her chair of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation Board of Directors.[11]

In 2024, the University of South Florida College of Public Health named Haridopolos the Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health, citing her work with Florida Healthy Kids Corporation.[9]

In 2025, it was reported that Haridopolos had been named acting chief of staff and senior adviser to the U.S. Surgeon General.[12] In May 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services listed her as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of National Health Communications in the Office of the Surgeon General.[4] The Assistant Secretary for Health, Brian Christine, used delegation authority to allow Haridopolos to carry out duties of surgeon general.[5][6]

Personal life

Her first husband was a British national who she married while in London during her medical school rotations, and had a daughter and son with him before divorcing him due to domestic abuse.[2] She is now married to Mike Haridopolos, the U.S. representative for Florida's 8th congressional district, with whom she has a third child.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 "Florida Department of Health License Lookup – Stephanie Eleanor Haridopolos". Florida Department of Health. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Spitzer, Michelle (November 15, 2011). "Freed from Abusive Past, Stephanie Haridopolos Has Bright Future". Florida Today. Treasure Coast Newspapers. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  3. ↑ Earle, Geoff (May 30, 2026). "Groove Doctor: Top Surgeon General Official Is a Dance Phenom". New York Post. Retrieved July 14, 2026. Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, 53, told The Post shortly after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tapped her as the temporary U.S. surgeon general.
  4. 1 2 "Stephanie E. Haridopolos, MD, DABFM". U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. May 20, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Cirruzzo, Chelsea (May 20, 2026). "Kennedy names interim surgeon general amid vacancies atop health department". STAT. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Gooch, Kelly (May 20, 2026). "HHS taps official to temporarily oversee select surgeon general duties". Becker's Hospital Review. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Active Volunteer Honored at Sunrise Senior Center". Sun Sentinel. June 23, 1993. Retrieved July 14, 2026. Stephanie Bressan, Plantation, a junior chemistry major at Stetson University, has been inducted into the Beta Beta chapter of Gamma Sigma Epsilon. She was one of eight students joining the national chemistry honor society. Bressan is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
  8. ↑ "Stetson University Archives – Honors 1994". Stetson University. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Keough, Caitlin (April 8, 2024). "Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos awarded the 2024 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health". USF Health. University of South Florida. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Certification Matters – Stephanie Eleanor Haridopolos". American Board of Medical Specialties. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "CFO Jimmy Patronis Appoints Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos as Chair of Florida Healthy Kids Corporation Board of Directors" (Press release). Florida KidCare. December 10, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ Ogles, Jacob (May 6, 2025). "Stephanie Haridopolos named Chief of Staff to U.S. Surgeon General". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  13. ↑ Clark, Zach (August 18, 2024). "WATCH: Congressional Candidate Mike Haridopolos Discusses His Campaign Ahead of Aug. 20 Primary Election". Space Coast Daily. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
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