President Biden is reportedly planning to appoint Dr. Mandy Cohen as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Cohen is a former North Carolina health secretary who successfully navigated her state through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although her appointment has not yet been made official, Dr. Cohen is said to be the leading candidate. Dr. Cohen would take over from Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, who recently announced that she would be stepping down from the role at the end of June. Dr. Cohen has previous experience in the federal government, having held a number of positions in the Obama administration, including chief operating officer and chief of staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dr. Cohen is currently working as an executive at Aledade, a company that supports physicians and community health clinics.
Dr. Cohen’s experience leading North Carolina’s response to the pandemic and her innovative program creations have earned her the praise of public health experts, who consider her a potential asset as the next CDC director. Dr. Cohen is known for being a clear communicator, especially during a period when the pandemic had become extremely politicized. Dr. Cohen has also earned a reputation for creating programs that allow state governments to use Medicaid dollars to address needs that affect people’s health, such as food insecurity and housing. These qualities, according to experts, and her background in both public health and medicine make her uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the two fields.
