Dr. Mandy Cohen was appointed as the new director of the CDC by President Joe Biden just a month after the U.S officially declared an end to the COVID-19 public-health emergency on May 11, 2023. As the former head of North Carolina’s department of health and human services, Dr. Cohen knew that rebuilding trust and authority at the CDC would be crucial for its success in protecting public health.
She immediately set out to improve communication within the agency, working to break down internal silos and ensure that information about COVID-19 and other health issues was conveyed clearly and succinctly to the public. Despite facing backlash for certain decisions, such as changing isolation guidance for COVID-19 patients, Dr. Cohen remained committed to her mission.
One of her first priorities was to initiate a new project to collect real-time data from hospitals nationwide in order to identify and respond to emerging health concerns before they escalate into crises. Dr. Cohen emphasized the importance of having access to this data in order to understand and address health issues more effectively. She believed that by being proactive in collecting data, she could make informed decisions about how best to protect public health during a pandemic or other crisis situations.
Overall, Dr. Cohen’s approach has driven significant changes within the CDC, with a focus on communication, data collection, and responsiveness helping strengthen its ability to protect the health of the public during times of crisis or uncertainty.
