Dr. Susan Monarez confirmed to lead CDC
Monarez, a microbiologist and infectious disease expert who has served across several federal health agencies over the years, was the CDC's deputy director from January to March. She was nominated to lead the agency after President Donald Trump withdrew his first nominee, former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon. White House officials had privately voiced concerns about Weldon's comments expressing skepticism about vaccines.
This year is the first time the CDC director post has required Senate confirmation; previous directors were appointed to lead the agency.
'She brings decades of distinguished experience in health innovation, disaster preparedness, global health, and biosecurity to @CDCgov,' the CDC said Tuesday in a post on social media. 'Dr. Monarez will lead @CDCgov's efforts to prevent disease and respond to domestic and global health threats, advancing @SecKennedy's mission to Make America Healthy Again.'
During her confirmation hearing last month, Monarez distanced herself from some Trump administration directives such as mass layoffs at the CDC and proposals to eliminate programs. Some of her comments appeared to put her at odds with US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on issues such as the benefits of vaccination and the fluoridation of public water supplies, although she was vague about the future of those programs under her leadership.
Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee had sought reassurances during the hearing that Monarez would protect the integrity of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of independent experts who advise the agency on issues such as vaccination. Kennedy dismissed all 17 of its members last month, citing conflicts of interest, and replaced them with eight new members, several of whom had records of criticizing vaccine safety.
'Dr. Monarez is stepping into one of the most consequential public health roles in the world at a moment of profound challenge for the CDC,' Dr. Richard Besser, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a former acting CDC director, said in a statement Tuesday.
'Every American benefits when CDC has the resources it needs to advance its mission to protect health. Yet the Trump Administration has engaged in an unprecedented attack on CDC's mission, budget, and personnel. … Dr. Monarez must not only lead the CDC – she must fight for it. Our nation's entire public health system depends on CDC having the tools it needs to respond to pandemics, reduce chronic disease, and address health inequities that continue to leave too many communities behind. That starts with a director willing to speak the truth, defend science, and stand up for the health of every American.'
CNN's Sarah Owermohle, Alayna Treene, Brenda Goodman and Meg Tirrell contributed to this report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Kamala Harris complains ‘the system' is ‘broken' in Stephen Colbert interview after spending $1B on failed presidential campaign – suggests she won't run in 2028
Former Vice President Kamala Harris bemoaned Thursday in an interview with soon-to-be axed lefty talk show host Stephen Colbert that the American political system is 'broken' and suggested she wouldn't embark on a third White House run after her landslide loss to President Trump. Harris, who announced Wednesday that she wouldn't be running for California governor in 2026, was asked by 'The Late Show' host – in her first post-election interview – if she was perhaps interested in a 'different office.' 'No … it's perhaps more basic than that,' Harris responded. 6 Former Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with Stephen Colbert during her appearance on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' on July 31, 2025. CBS 'Recently I made the decision that I just, for now, I don't want to go back in the system. I think it's broken,' she explained. Harris, 60, lost the popular vote, the Electoral College and every swing state to Trump last November, despite raising more than $1 billion for her ill-fated campaign. 'I always believed that as fragile as our democracy is, our systems would be strong enough to defend our most fundamental principles. And I think, right now, that they're not as strong as they need to be. And I just don't want to, for now — I don't want to go back in the system,' the former vice president continued. 'I want to travel the country. I want to listen to people. I want to talk with people. And I don't want it to be transactional, where I'm asking for their vote,' Harris added. Colbert — a Biden-Harris supporter who moderated a campaign fundraiser for former President Joe Biden before he dropped out of the race — appeared stunned by Harris' reluctance to get back into politics. 'It's harrowing,' the lame-duck talk-show host said of Harris' gloomy view of the state of democracy. 6 Harris' appearance on the talk show is her first interview since she lost the presidential election in November 2024. CBS 6 Colbert displays Harris' new book '107 Days' during their interview Thursday night. CBS 'I'm hearing you don't want to be a part of the fight anymore,' a puzzled Colbert continued. To which Harris responded: 'Oh, absolutely not. I'm always going to be part of the fight.' Harris's appearance on the 'The Late Show' – her eighth on the program – comes ahead of the release of her book, '107 Days,' which she described as a 'behind the scene sharing of what it means to run for president.' 6 Harris suggested she wouldn't run for the White House in 2028. CBS 6 Harris described the book as a 'behind the scene sharing of what it means to run for president.' CBS The failed presidential candidate described her run against Trump as 'very intense,' but also admitted that she never wanted to be commander in chief. 'There are some people who are born or grow up believing, 'I'm going to be president. I want to be president' – that wasn't me,' Harris told Colbert. At one point, the funny man pressed Harris on the conversations she was having in the aftermath of Biden's disastrous June 2024 debate with Trump and whether people were telling her 'you should be prepared' to replace the incumbent. 'There were some who did,' Harris revealed, 'but I – listen, it was, it was Joe's decision, and he made that decision.' 6 The failed presidential candidate described her run against Trump as 'very intense,' but also admitted that she never wanted to be commander in chief. CBS Colbert later attempted to pin Harris down on who she believes is currently leading the Democratic Party, but the former veep refused to name anyone – instead arguing, 'There are lots of leaders.' 'I'm not going to go through names, because then I'm going to leave somebody out, and then I'm going to hear about it.' When asked how long she waited to turn on the news after her loss to Trump, Harris quickly answered, 'months.' 'I'm just not into self mutilation.'
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Sen. Elizabeth Warren falls on Senate floor as Republicans offer bipartisan assistance during Israel vote
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., took a tumble on the Senate floor Wednesday during a vote. Footage showed Warren attempting to sit on a desk when she fell backwards, tipping over the desk and falling to the floor. In a rare showing of bipartisanship, her Republican colleagues, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Susan Collins of Maine, rushed to help her up. Warren got up as Cruz gave her his hand. Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and John Barrasso of Wyoming were seen walking over to offer assistance. The fall happened as the Senate was taking a vote on two resolutions to block military sales to Israel, which Warren voted in favor of. Fox News Digital has reached out to Warren's office. The resolutions were proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a harsh critic of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 4 Sen. Elizabeth Warren attempts to lean on a desk on the Senate floor during a vote on July 31, 2025. US Senate 4 Warren falls to the ground during the Israel resolution vote. US Senate 4 Senators rush to help Warren off the floor after her tumble. 4 Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and John Barrasso of Wyoming were seen walking over to offer assistance. US Senate Every Republican voted against it. Former President Joe Biden had several slips and falls while in the White House. In 2023, he tumbled to the ground during the commencement ceremony at the US Air Force Academy. In 2024, he slipped while walking down the stairs after exiting Air Force One in Michigan.
Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
PCPs Guide to Prescribing Blood Thinners for AF
As a primary care physician (PCP), you're often the first healthcare professional that will identify cardiac issues, including atrial fibrillation (AF). Individuals with AF face a fivefold risk for stroke. Therefore, these patients are often prescribed blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) to slow blood clotting, according to the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Up to six million Americans have AF, the risk for which increases with age. The ASH says there are 450,000 hospitalizations each year because of AF. It's very important to check on your patient's response within the first few months of taking blood thinners. In fact, patients with AF who took low doses of oral anticoagulants experienced a higher incidence of bleeding episodes during the first 3 months of treatment, according to a study published in Blood Advances . When Should PCPs Prescribe Anticoagulants? PCPs should consider prescribing oral anticoagulants when they are the principal caregivers for patients with AF, acute deep venous thrombosis, or acute pulmonary embolism, according to R. Michael Benitez, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. The decision to prescribe an oral anticoagulant must be based upon the patient's risk without anticoagulation weighed in context with the patient's risk for significant bleeding, he said. How Can Physicians Best Communicate the Rationale for Anticoagulant Therapy? When describing AF, PCPs can explain to patients that the upper chamber of heart is 'wiggling' and not effectively contracting and when blood is not being effectively moved forward, it tends to clot, said Benitez. Physicians can also share that a clot as small as 2 mm is large enough to cause a major stroke if it were to break loose from the inside of the top chamber and be pumped with the blood to the brain, suggested the cardiologist. 'The oral anticoagulant greatly reduces the risk of the formation of these blood clots and subsequent stroke,' Benitez said. 'Stroke is a terrible event that, if survived, often changes a patient's life permanently and significantly. In the setting of atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation greatly reduces the patient's risk of stroke.' Regarding deep venous thrombosis, physicians can explain that a blood clot in the leg veins could break loose and be pumped through the right side of the heart to the lungs. 'This event, pulmonary embolism, can cause critical illness or even death; the risk can be greatly reduced through the use of oral anticoagulants,' said Benitez. What Are Important Directives Regarding Usage? PCPs should stress that daily use is critical to the success of the drug in preventing stroke. 'In the case of the new direct oral anticoagulants, such as apixaban or rivaroxaban, the drugs both work very quickly but also wear off very quickly,' said Benitez. 'This means that even missing just 2-3 days is enough for the blood to again clot normally. It is essential that the drugs be taken daily to prevent stroke.' In the case of warfarin, the effect of the drug is more prolonged. While missing a single dose is unlikely to markedly change the degree of anticoagulation, it's still best to remind patients not to miss doses and take this daily as prescribed, according to Benitez. What Side Effects Should Be Discussed? It is extremely important with warfarin — and to a lesser degree with direct oral anticoagulants — to always make certain that there is no drug-drug interaction that might affect the degree of anticoagulation when new medications are introduced, such as antibiotics, said Benitez. Other side effects to bring to a patients' attention are minor bleeding (such as gum bleeding with dental flossing) or nose bleeds that stop easily, which don't require immediate medical attention. However, your patients should self-monitor bleeding episodes and know a course of action if injured. 'If bleeding will not readily stop then medical attention is needed, and patients who incur major injury or trauma are likely to be taken to an emergency facility where it is important for the staff caring for them to know what anticoagulant they are taking, the dose, and when they last took it,' Benitez said. 'Reversal agents are now available to normalize blood clotting.' Your patients may be concerned with food that could interact with these medications. Benitez said there are no significant food interactions or dietary restrictions. But when prescribing warfarin, some nutritional guidance is warranted. 'With warfarin, which is a vitamin K antagonist, it is essential that the patient limit their intake of food containing vitamin K, as it is essentially an antidote or reversal agent for the anticoagulant,' he said. Some sources of vitamin K are well-known, such as leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and other greens. However, there are many other dietary sources rich in vitamin K that may not be as obvious, such as cauliflower and soy products, Benitez said. 'It is important for the patient to familiarize themselves with vitamin K-containing foods and to keep the intake of them low and steady from day to day if they are taking warfarin,' he said.
