On Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and President Joe Biden announced that Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC organization, will be leaving her government position.
According to an email sent to CDC employees on the same day, Walensky’s last day on the job will be June 30. In a statement, Biden expressed gratitude to Walensky for her leadership and praised her for her honesty and integrity in managing the organization during the unprecedented pandemic. He further added that under her leadership, the CDC has become a stronger institution that is better equipped to address health challenges and safeguard the well-being of Americans.
In a letter addressed to President Biden, which was made public by the CDC, Walensky acknowledged the agency’s success in saving lives and improving public health, particularly during the COVID-19 public health emergency. She expressed her aim to leave behind the pandemic’s “dark days” and lead the CDC and public health towards a more trusted and prosperous future.
In addition to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC, under Walensky’s leadership, also responded to other health crises, such as outbreaks of Ebola in Uganda and mpox in various countries worldwide. Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House’s Covid-19 response team leader, praised Walensky on Twitter, calling her an exceptional leader and partner who launched significant reforms to enhance the CDC’s effectiveness.
Last year, the CDC underwent an independent review of its response to COVID-19 and had a close inspection of its operations after acknowledging missteps. In August, Walensky presented a comprehensive plan to revamp the agency’s working methods and change the culture to respond more swiftly to health issues. She stated her objective was to establish a new public health action-oriented culture at the CDC that prioritizes accountability, collaboration, communication, and timeliness.
