The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently undergone a significant transformation in leadership, with Dr. Mandy Cohen appointed as the new director by President Joe Biden on June 10, 2023. This appointment came a month after the official end of the U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023.
Dr. Cohen, an internal medicine physician who previously led North Carolina’s department of health and human services, stepped into her new role at a crucial time for the agency, which had faced criticism for its handling of the pandemic. One of her main priorities upon taking office was to improve the CDC’s communication strategies in order to rebuild trust and authority with the public. She has been working hard to break down internal barriers within the agency and ensure that information about COVID-19 and other health issues is clearly and succinctly conveyed to the public.
Despite facing criticism, such as backlash over changes to isolation guidance for COVID-19 patients, Dr. Cohen remains committed to her mission of improving public health outcomes through effective communication and data collection.
Under her leadership, the CDC is evolving to be more proactive in monitoring and addressing public health concerns. Dr. Cohen emphasizes the importance of understanding the full scope of illnesses that are affecting the population and being able to respond effectively.
Her new effort is focused on collecting real-time data from hospitals nationwide with the goal of identifying potential health crises before they escalate.
Overall, Dr. Cohen’s focus on improving communication, breaking down barriers, and collecting real-time data demonstrates her dedication to improving the CDC’s effectiveness in protecting public health outcomes in this critical time for our nation’s health care system
