Dr. Erica Schwartz Confirmed As First Black Woman Director Of Centers For Disease Control And Prevention – AfroTech
Dr. Erica Schwartz will lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at a tumultuous time for the nation’s public health agency.
According to CNN, Dr. Erica Schwartz was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as director of the CDC. She was nominated in April for the position, which has been vacant for a year. Schwartz previously served as a deputy surgeon general and U.S. Coast Guard officer. She also holds medical and law degrees, per The Associated Press.
She received a 51-44 vote, with most Democratic senators opposing her nomination and most Republicans supporting it, per NBC News. This marks the first time a Black woman has ever held the director role at the CDC.
“As CDC director, my sacred responsibility is to provide the American people with public health guidance that is clear, honest and evidence-based,” she said, according to the outlet. “I will never betray the science.”
A key consideration for members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was her willingness to stand firm against directives from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if they didn’t align with sound scientific evidence or public health practices, according to AP News. Kennedy had previously expressed anti-vaccine views before becoming Health and Human Services secretary.
Schwartz was a favorable selection for President Donald Trump, but not for Kennedy, notes the outlet.
“Now, Dr. Schwartz needs to prove that her leadership will serve science and not the whims of politicians. CDC needs a Director who will protect public health workers, defend evidence-based guidance, and refuse any directive that would undermine public safety,” read a statement from the National Public Health Coalition, according to AP News.
Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, said:
“With all the turmoil of the past two years, the CDC desperately needs stability, experienced leadership, and a steadfast commitment to science.”
