Ex-Georgia public health commish named to head CDC

The Trump administration today named obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fitzgerald, who ran twice for Congress in Georgia as a Republican without success, has served as chief of Georgia’s public health agency for the past six years.

Since the agency’s previous director Dr. Tom Friedan left his post in January, the CDC’s deputy director has maintained the position.

“It’s good that she has experience running a public health agency,” Frieden said, according to Stat. 

Fitzgerald does not seem to have any experience conducting scientific research, which some have pointed out is a crucial part of the CDC’s role as a scientific body.

“If she’s willing to listen to the staff and learn from the staff and then to understand that a large part of her role is to support them, yes, she can be very successful,” Friedan told the news outlet.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price told Stat that Fitzgerald “has a deep appreciation and understanding of medicine, public health, policy and leadership — all qualities that will prove vital as she leads the CDC.”

Material from Reuters was used in this report.

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