The new director of the CDC, Erica Schwartz
The new CDC director, Erica Schwartz, was Deputy Surgeon General in the first Trump administration, has a degree in Medicine and a master’s degree in public health. Publicly supports vaccination and follows evidence-based medicine — unlike Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The President of the USA, Donald Trumpannounced on Thursday his third appointment to director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Erica Schwartz — a normal and qualified person, notes the .
The former head of public health, with solid qualifications and a doctor certified in preventive medicine, has publicly supported vaccination and followed the evidence-based medicine.
Schwartz’s choice, which did not generate controversycomes against a backdrop of concern within the Trump administration that the Health Secretary’s aggressively anti-vaccine agenda, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.who has no training in medicine, science or public health, has become a burden for the party in the run-up to the midterm elections.
Schwartz was Deputy Surgeon General in the first Trump administration. He spent much of his career as naval officerserved as Medical Director of the US Coast Guard and is a retired rear admiral of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service.
The new director of the CDC is degree in Medicine from Brown University, has a master’s degree in public health and a law degree from the University of Maryland. During the pandemic, it was involved in the federal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
On social media, there are advocated the use of vaccines as part of preventive healthcare. Earlier this month, on the occasion of National Public Health Week, she spoke about her experience as a military doctor.
“My work was all about preparedness; it was all about public health: prevention, vaccines, early detection. If we get this right, we change lives before the disease even begins“, he stated.
External public health experts praised his appointmenthighlighting your qualifications. However, they also show fearful as to how an evidence-driven healthcare manager will be able to function in the midst of Kennedy’s anti-vaccine efforts and interference from his many allies with similar positions he placed at the CDC.
Jerome AdamsTrump’s Surgeon General during his first administration, on social media that Schwartz is a “combat-forged leader, with decades of distinguished public service”, and that is “cautiously optimistic” in relation to his choice. As leader of the CDC, “it will be excellent“, he stated, with the caveat: “if he is allowed to follow science without political interference.”
There is an obvious reason for such caution. Trump’s second choice for director of the CDC, Susan Monarezwas an equally respected and evidence-driven health official.
However, after being confirmed by the Senate, lasted just 29 days in office before Kennedy withdraw for refusing to automatically stamp vaccination policies drawn up by the panel of advisers skeptical of the vaccines he himself had selected.
Trump’s first nominee, Dave Weldona former Florida congressman, didn’t even get that far. His anti-vaccine positions made him unviable in the Senate and the nomination was eventually withdrawn.
With Schwartz’s credentials, he is likely to have no problems with Senate approval. However, his ability to avoid Monarez’s fate staying true to evidence-based public health policies is in doubt.
“We saw what happened to Susan“, said the former medical director of the CDC Debra Hourywho resigned in protest against Kennedy’s political interference, to . “She couldn’t make personnel or policy decisions. What changed? Kennedy hasn’t changed“.
