AP Photo/Susan Walsh
In a letter released late Monday, Joe Biden's physician said the reason a Parkinson's expert visited the White House monthly was to host routine neurology clinics for active-duty staff.
Kevin O'Connor, Biden's physician, wrote the letter to address reporting by The New York Times about the repeated visits by Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist specializing in movement disorders.
The Times' report, published Monday amid growing critiques of Biden's age and capacity to run for reelection, relied on visitor logs to track eight visits by Cannard in as many months but did not specify why he'd traveled to the White House so often.
O'Connor wrote that Cannard "was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals" but stressed that Cannard's monthly visits are not related to the president.
"Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, he has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations," O'Connor wrote.
He added: "Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMC as part of this General Neurology practice."
O'Connor reiterated that Cannard's findings related to the president's health have been made public following each annual physical, adding that Biden "has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical."
Representatives for the Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
