New leadership at the US CDC

Rochelle Walensky, an infectious diseases expert, promises to provide transparency, accountability, and restored trust at the embattled organisation. Susan Jaffe reports from Washington, DC. US President-elect Joe Biden's pick lead Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), will take helm next week, a pivotal moment: Americans have never needed CDC more, yet it has been hamstrung by sceptical Trump administration during devastating pandemic. The USA suffered world's highest COVID-19 death toll, more than 374 000 rising. A highly contagious variant of virus arrived UK, distribution long-awaited vaccines hit roadblocks. In choosing Biden opted “one most regarded people in disease research practice, who forefront important work bridging science policy”, said Jennifer Kates, director global health HIV policy Kaiser Family Foundation. choice was praised many medical communities, according news reports, elicited relief several admirers on Twitter. Walensky is chief division Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, professor medicine Harvard Medical School, practising physician. As scientist, she analysed cost-effectiveness care USA, including routine screening antiviral therapy. March, 2020, Republican Governor Charlie Baker appointed his advisory board help coordinate state's pandemic response. She early advocate wearing masks expanding testing control spread virus. 13 employees budget nearly US$8 billion. It operates around world prevent respond outbreaks threats ranging foodborne infections HIV/AIDS, now COVID-19. Although little experience running government agency or dealing with Congress, that does not worry Katrina Armstrong, chair Walensky's supervisor. “I know build extraordinary team those management tasks”, Armstrong. “She committed every way listening taking advice…and going do incredible job.” bring fresh perspective CDC, Laurie Garrett, Foreign Policy magazine columnist expert. can be perceived as someone legitimately searching expert consult.” Garrett recommended create committees identify address areas where needs improvement, such issues led problems “And they need ground fast.” inherits shaken President Donald Trump's political operatives threatened censor CDC's respected Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) journal demanded changes guidance posted website. flouted its recommendations contradicted hand-picked director, Robert Redfield. “The sidelined, maligned, undermined delayed, rejected, criticised”, former Tom Frieden, president Resolve Save Lives. “There lot that's done ensure what saying.” exclusive interview Lancet, “science muzzled”, administration. aims reassure scientists their voice heard public understands scientific rationale guidance. also wants investment rebuild “the failed infrastructure health” so data flow smoothly states. When announced appointment—which require Senate approval—he pledged “follow scientists”, promise believes he keep. wouldn't taken this job if I thought case”, said. no intention leading MMWR reviewed politicians see whether published.” Repairing damage “is easy any stretch”, “But think you start [saying] we're science, we are trusted, transparent, accountable our actions.” other priorities include addressing opioid crisis, HIV, disparities, after treating vulnerable groups her career. “There's inequity how deliver to”, extent my power, change…The fact there's three four times [COVID-19] hospitalisations black brown communities just acceptable.” Media reveal interference CDCNews accounts say officials wanted edit approve studies publish without usual review. reports. Full-Text PDF Walensky: new Director CDCThe HIV/AIDS epidemic still raging 1995 when internal resident Johns Hopkins University School Medicine Baltimore, USA. “As interns, were each admitting six seven patients night half them had dying AIDS”, recalled. “We could treat some opportunistic infections, but didn't give hope”, Yet year's end, FDA approved cocktail antiretroviral drugs meant AIDS longer certain sentence.