Today, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s announcement that he intends to appoint Dr. Mandy Cohen to be the next CDC director.

“I congratulate Dr. Mandy Cohen on her appointment to serve as the 20^th CDC director.  Dr. Cohen is a respected public health leader who helped North Carolina successfully navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes for all Americans.  Her unique experience and accomplished tenure in North Carolina – along with her other career contributions – make her perfectly suited to lead CDC as it moves forward by building on the lessons learned from COVID-19 to create an organization poised to meet public health challenges of the future.  I can think of no better hands in which to leave this agency during a critical time in its history. I wish Dr. Cohen and the dedicated people of CDC strength and the brightest successes in the next chapter.”