Mandy Cohen to be Named Next CDC Director

On June 16, the President announced his intention to appoint Dr. Mandy Cohen as the next Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cohen will replace Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the current Director who has been serving since 2020. Cohen is expected to start in July; the CDC Director does not currently require Senate confirmation.  

In the release announcing the appointment, President Biden stated, “Dr. Cohen is one of the nation’s top physicians and health leaders with experience leading large and complex organizations, and a proven track-record protecting Americans’ health and safety… Dr. Cohen has been recognized by leaders from both parties for her ability find common ground and put complex policy into action. I look forward to working with Dr. Cohen as she leads our nation’s finest scientists and public health experts with integrity and transparency.”

Cohen previously served as the Director of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. She also served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and as Acting-Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). Cohen received her medical degree from the Yale School of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health.