The Significance of Dr. Cohen’s Appointment at the C.D.C.: Dr. Cohen will be responsible for leading the C.D.C.’s response to public health crises.
Dr. Cohen’s appointment does not require Senate confirmation, allowing her to assume leadership of the C.D.C. immediately after Dr. Walensky steps down. While recent legislation mandates confirmation for the agency’s director, it won’t be enforced until 2025.
Dr. Walensky praised Dr. Cohen as the ideal candidate to lead the C.D.C.’s future endeavors, drawing from the lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The federal Covid public health emergency declaration expired in May under the Biden administration. With Dr. Cohen at the helm, the C.D.C. will spearhead the revised efforts to monitor the coronavirus, including its presence in wastewater. Additionally, she will oversee a wide range of public health crises across the agency’s centers, encompassing other infectious disease outbreaks and opioid use.
Over the course of the pandemic, the C.D.C.’s reputation has suffered a decline in public trust due to its initial mishandling of testing, political interference, and inconsistent guidance on testing, masking, and virus transmission. However, with Dr. Cohen’s appointment, the agency aims to rebuild credibility.
Dr. Cohen emerged as the top candidate from a large pool of contenders, as confirmed by Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House chief of staff and former Covid response coordinator for the Biden administration.
Dr. Cohen’s Background and Experience: Dr. Cohen combines expertise from the public and private sectors.
Prior to her appointment, Dr. Cohen held roles in the Obama administration, including chief operating officer and chief of staff for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In addition, she worked as an internist and executive at Aledade, a company supporting community health clinics and physicians.
Dr. Ashish K. Jha, who recently led the Biden administration’s Covid-19 response, praised Dr. Cohen’s unique qualifications in both the public health and healthcare delivery systems, which are essential for effective crisis management.
Dr. Cohen’s involvement in North Carolina’s Covid-19 response, during a period of political division, provides valuable experience in navigating complexities within a government-based agency like the C.D.C.
Dr. Tom Inglesby, the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasizes the importance of the incoming C.D.C. director’s ability to collaborate with officials nationwide, including those in Washington.
Prior to President Biden’s announcement of Dr. Cohen’s appointment, a group of Republican lawmakers expressed objections due to her stance on mask requirements and accusations of politicizing science.
What Lies Ahead: Dr. Cohen will be entrusted with overseeing an extensive agency overhaul.
Dr. Walensky initiated a comprehensive effort to restructure the chronically underfunded C.D.C., a process that Dr. Cohen will continue. This includes modernizing data systems and enhancing public communications.
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