Dr. Mandy Cohen may be leading the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This news has been exclusively confirmed by the White House.
President Joe Biden heralded her capacity to lead CDC as the next director, stating to CNN that “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 to find common ground and put complex policy into action”.
Dr. Cohen will soon step away from a role in the private sector to use her knowledge, expertise and trusted voice to lead America’s most trusted public health organisation.
CDC is currently heckled with challenges and a collapsing morale, in need of a strong and effective leader who can make the agency more accountable.
Dr. Cohen has been described as someone who is not afraid of facing challenges. She actively embraces them instead of avoiding them. Furthermore, she is characterised to be someone who speaks up about uncomfortable truths, including questioning whether individuals are making the right choices. She has enough perspective to sit on top of the problem and be a participant in the solution.
Dr. Cohen served as the head of North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services during the pandemic, and showcased her leadership skills as someone who was committed to prioritising the wellbeing of the population over political considerations. She made decisions based on what was best for the health care of the people of North Carolina.
Coming out of a crisis like the COVID-19 Pandemic requires preparation and execution. Unfortunately, it was believed that the CDC was under-prepared and execution may have been lacking.
Dr. Cohen built the department she ran to where it needed to be and beyond. She was transparent about the challenges and critical enough to find solutions. As the agency has been under attack, it seems Dr. Cohen will need to come into the role with a vision, instill employees with confidence and be prepared to deal with the outside forces.
Source & Image Credit: CNN News
