A White House official said that Biden chose Dr. Kevin O’Connor to replace Dr. Sean Conley as his doctor. It is not uncommon for a president to appoint his own physician upon taking office, although his two most recent predecessors have each retained the senior physician who served the men who served them.
Conley sparked controversy in the fall when he admitted offering optimistic descriptions of Trump’s condition because the White House wanted to project optimism. In reality, Trump suffered from serious illnesses, such as shortness of breath that required supplemental oxygen.
Biden has a long history with O’Connor, who was his doctor as vice president. He is a retired US Army colonel who served in the 82nd Airborne Division, the 75th Rangers Regiment, and the United States Army Special Operations Command.
He administered Biden’s physical exam in 2019 and prepared a report that he considered the then candidate “healthy” and “vigorous”. At 78, Biden is the oldest newly appointed president in history.
A White House doctor is responsible for the medical care of the President, the first family and the White House staff. They oversee a team of doctors and nurses who make up the White House Medical Unit, which is based on the White House’s ground floor.
White House doctors travel wherever the president goes, including in the Marine One helicopter and aboard Air Force One. They can often be seen walking a few steps behind the president, carrying a large medical bag. Traditionally, they also conduct an annual physical exam and provide a summary for reporters.
O’Connor and Conley have degrees in osteopathic medicine, one of two degrees in the United States with which doctors can practice medicine – either as a doctor of medicine or as a doctor of osteopathic medicine. About a quarter of U.S. medical students train in schools of osteopathic medicine, according to the American Medical Association. Historically, doctoral programs in osteopathic medicine have praised their methods as “more holistic”.
Conley was examined during Trump’s fight with the coronavirus in the fall. He supervised a team of experts at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Trump was treated.
At first, he did not reveal that the president had received supplemental oxygen and defended the decision saying he wanted to “reflect the team’s optimistic attitude”.
“I didn’t want to give any information that would direct the course of the disease in another direction, and in doing so, I found that we were trying to hide something,” said Conley.
On Wednesday, Conley was seen leaving the White House next to Trump, who was making a final trip to Florida before his term ended.
This story has been updated with additional context information.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.