Who is Dr. Erica Schwartz, Trump’s new pick to be first Black woman to head the CDC?

President Donald Trump introduced his option to run the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday, nominating Dr. Erica Schwartz as its subsequent director.

“Erica graduated from Brown College for School and Medical Faculty, and served a distinguished profession as a Physician of Medication in america Army, the Best and Most Highly effective Pressure within the World, after which served as my Deputy Surgeon Basic throughout my First Time period,” President Trump wrote on Reality Social, including, “She is a STAR!”

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Schwartz will turn out to be the primary Black lady to function CDC director.

“She’s not a wallflower, and she or he’s not afraid to talk fact to energy,” Dr. Brett Giroir, a former Assistant Well being Secretary who was Schwartz’s boss in the course of the first Trump administration, informed the New York Instances. “She’s actually depraved sensible, and isn’t topic to rumor and conspiracy theories. I’m more than happy that an individual along with her expertise, credentials and dedication to public well being and prevention is a candidate for this place.”

Who’s Dr. Erica Schwartz?

Schwartz, a veteran rear admiral within the U.S. Public Well being Service Commissioned Corps, beforehand served as deputy surgeon common in the course of the first Trump administration. She left the put up in 2021.

The Ivy League-educated physician and legislation faculty graduate (College of Maryland) accomplished her 2001 residency in occupational and environmental drugs and later served within the U.S. Navy till 2005. Schwartz later served as Chief of Preventive Medication from 2005 to 2013 and Chief of Well being Providers from 2013 to 2015 at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC. She was then appointed because the Coast Guard’s principal professional on flu pandemics.

Dr. Schwartz has acquired a number of awards, together with a Legion of Advantage, two Meritorious Service Medals, and Commendation Medals from each the Navy and the Coast Guard. In 2011, she was acknowledged as one of many Army Well being System’s feminine physicians of the 12 months.

In 2015, Dr. Schwartz was appointed to the rank of rear admiral on the Public Well being Service Commissioned Corps and have become the U.S. Coast Guard Chief Medical Officer. Whereas on the U.S. Coast Guard, she was accountable for its well being care system of 41 clinics and 150 sick bays. She additionally managed and oversaw the Coast Guard’s mishap prevention, response, and investigation, in addition to its little one care applications, meals providers supply applications, Ombudsman, Substance Abuse, Well being Promotion, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response applications.

In 2019, President Trump appointed Dr. Schwartz as deputy surgeon common. She performed an integral function in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, main the federal authorities’s program of drive-through testing websites.

Dr. Schwartz labored as the purpose particular person for the Division of Well being and Human Providers throughout the presidential transition from the primary Trump administration to the Biden administration. She was later knowledgeable by the Biden administration that she wouldn’t be chosen to stay as deputy surgeon common, resulting in her resignation and the tip of her 27 years of mixed uniformed service.

Following her time within the U.S. federal authorities, Schwartz served as president of UnitedHealthcare’s insurance coverage options and joined the boards of administrators of Georgia-based dwelling care supplier Aveanna Healthcare and medical imaging firm Butterfly Community.

Dr. Schwartz’s nomination was praised by the American Public Well being Affiliation, which described her as a “well-trained and credentialed doctor.”

“Erica Schwartz possesses the medical background and public well being information to know that the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention should be guided by evidence-based science. Along with her earlier service at HHS in the course of the first Trump administration and as Chief Medical Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard, she has demonstrated sturdy management abilities,” stated the advocacy group of medical professionals.

“CDC is a a lot bigger and extra complicated group to guide. She might want to use sound managerial and negotiation abilities to navigate the rebuilding of our nation’s public well being system. If confirmed by the Senate as the following Director of the CDC, we stay up for working with Dr. Schwartz to make sure we use the most effective science and proof to enhance the nation’s well being.”