President Joe Bidenthe doctor released a letter on Monday night, clarifying the reasons for a Parkinson’s disease expert’s numerous visits to the White House, just hours after reporters seeking an explanation clashed with the president’s press secretary in the briefing room.
Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, said Kevin Cannard — who visited the White House several times last year — has been a neurology consultant at the White House medical office since 2012. Cannard, a Parkinson’s specialist, maintains neurology clinics at the White House for active-duty military personnel, the letter said. He was also the neurological expert who examined Biden in his three annual physical exams since taking office.
The president did not consult a neurologist beyond the physical exam, O’Connor said. He reiterated that Biden’s physical exam in February did not find results consistent with “any cerebellar disorder or other central neurological disorder such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or lateral ascending sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy.”
“Seeing patients at the White House is something Dr. Cannard has been doing for twelve years. Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is an expert in movement disorders, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and throughout the Military Health System, with a very broad experience that makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems,” the letter said.
The letter arrived just hours after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clashed with reporters over questions about whether or not Cannard was at the White House to consult on the president’s health. In recent days, several media outlets have reported on Cannard’s visits to the White House, including a meeting with the president’s doctor.
Monday’s tense back-and-forth made headlines about Jean-Pierre’s reluctance to answer numerous questions about medical appointments. The president is still trying to clean up last month’s difficult debate and convince members of his own party that he is up to the task of running for re-election.
Jean-Pierre said repeatedly on Monday that he would not confirm the name of the specialist to protect the privacy of people treated in the White House Medical Unit. In his letter, O’Connor said he received permission from both the president and Cannard, as they typically do not release the names of the specialists they work with in order to “protect the privacy of thousands of patients in the White House Medical Unit.” .
