U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) had an opportunity to tout the experience and qualifications of Dr. Brian Christine of Mountain Brook to his colleagues in the Senate Wednesday.
Tuberville introduced Christine during his nomination hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP). President Donald Trump nominated the prominent Alabama urologist earlier this year to be the next Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“It’s an honor to introduce my friend and constituent, Dr. Brian Christine,” Tuberville started. “Also thrilled to welcome today his wife, Helena, and sister, Kathleen. Thank you for being here.”
Christine earned his MD degree from Emory University and completed his medical residency in Urology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Following residency, he joined a large private practice urology group, Urology Centers of Alabama.
“If confirmed, Dr. Christine will oversee critical public health programs, regional health offices and U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps where he has pledged to accept a commission and lead with a Main Street medicine approach,” Tuberville added. “His top priorities include addressing chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, pediatric obesity, mental health, and the nation’s physician shortage crisis. He is particularly focused on expanding access to primary care and improving health in rural and underserved communities. With deep medical expertise, leadership experience, and a clear vision for reform, he is well equipped to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health, and I hope my federal colleagues will support his nomination – Dr. Christine.”
During the hearing, Christine said one of his main priorities will be to restore institutional trust from the American people.
“The loss of trust that we have seen in our healthcare institutions and the healthcare policies emanating from this city are the worst that I’ve seen in over three decades of practice,” Christine said. “People feel that during the pandemic particularly they were led astray, some people feel they were lied to. We have to work to restore that trust. Secretary Kennedy is 100% committed to doing that, as is President Trump.”
Christine was candidate for the Alabama Legislature in 2022. In the Republican Party primary, he earned 41% of the votes in a head-to-head race with now-State Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook). In 2023, he also ran for Jefferson County Commission, but eventually left the race to endorse Republican Mike Bolin.
“Well, we know that Secretary Kennedy is absolutely committed to the Make America Healthy Again agenda to remove toxins from our foods, to make sure that all have access to clean water, that we focus on not just treating chronic disease, but finding out what causes chronic disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and work to not only cure those diseases, but really prevent and eliminate those diseases. Secretary Kennedy is always wanting to approach things from the foundation of science,” Christine added during the hearing. “He truly believes in that. I agree with the Secretary on all of those things. I intend to support him. I intend to work diligently if I have the privilege of being confirmed. To support him in that quest to make Americans healthier than they’ve ever been.”
His brother is a former U.S. Attorney appointed by President Trump.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
