Biden’s Big Hires for Health

President-elect Joe Biden is rounding out his picks for key US public health roles as he prepares to take office next month, amid pressure to enshrine both diversity and medical expertise in the top positions, Reuters reports.
 
For secretary of Health and Human Services, it’s California attorney general Xavier Becerra. The first Latino to lead the agency, Becerra has led a cadre of states defending the Affordable Care Act—including in the Supreme Court last month, AP reports.
 
To lead the embattled CDC, Robert Redfield will be replaced by Rochelle Walensky, chief of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Harvard professor of medicine. One of her first challenges will be a big one: distributing COVID-19 vaccines, Politico reports.
 
Other key picks: Anthony Fauci will stay on as chief medical adviser (and head of NIAID). Prominent physician Vivek Murthy will once again be surgeon general.  


ICYMI: Public health experts are pressuring Biden to include health expertise in his Cabinet – STAT