A top Parkinson’s disease specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Dr. Kevin Cannard, held a meeting with White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor earlier this year, according to White House visitor logs. The specifics of these meetings, however, remain unclear.
Records show that Cannard visited the White House on three occasions in 2023: January 17 with Dr. O’Connor, and separately on January 26 and March 28 with other staffers. In the past year, Cannard has visited the White House at least eight times, beginning in August and concluding with the March 28 meeting. Notably, only the January 17 visit explicitly names Dr. O’Connor as the host.
Responding to inquiries about the purpose of Cannard’s meetings with Dr. O’Connor, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates stated that specialists from Walter Reed routinely visit the White House to attend to the medical needs of military personnel stationed there. Bates clarified that President Biden has not undergone neurological evaluations outside of his annual physical exams while in office.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre later affirmed that Biden has been seen by a neurologist three times during his presidency, specifically during each of his physicals, but declined to disclose the identities of the specialists involved or elaborate on Cannard’s multiple visits. She cited security concerns for not divulging further details.
Jean-Pierre faced contentious questioning during a press briefing regarding the president’s health, repeatedly refusing to confirm names or details related to Cannard’s visits. She emphasized that Biden has never received treatment for Parkinson’s disease or any related medication.
Dr. Cannard, a seasoned neurologist with more than a decade at Walter Reed, has made numerous visits to the White House, though the exact nature of these visits, including whether they pertain to President Biden or other White House personnel, remains undisclosed by the visitor logs.
Recent health reports released by Dr. O’Connor following Biden’s February physical examination indicate that he was screened for various neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, all yielding negative results. The reports also noted consultations with specialists, including a movement-disorder neurologic specialist, to address observations of Biden’s gait issues, ultimately attributing them to spinal wear and tear rather than neurological conditions.
The disclosure of Cannard’s visits comes amid heightened scrutiny over Biden’s age, fitness, and mental sharpness following his performance in a June 27 presidential debate against former President Donald Trump. The White House has been pressed for details regarding Biden’s medical tests and appointments in the lead-up to and aftermath of the debate.
In a recent interview, Biden affirmed he regularly undergoes medical evaluations by White House doctors but dismissed specific queries about cognitive tests, asserting that he has been cleared by his physicians.
The White House and Biden’s campaign have attributed Biden’s debate performance issues to a demanding travel schedule and a cold, initially stating that he did not visit a doctor post-debate, but later confirming he underwent a medical check-up after the event.