FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: APHA Media Relations
Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD
Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 2020 — Today, I am glad to express my support for the nomination of Dr. Rachel Levine as assistant secretary for health. She is a well-qualified and dedicated public servant with the demonstrated experience, skills and expertise needed for our country to strongly prevail and emerge from this deadly pandemic.
Her current work leading Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 response as the state’s secretary of health has protected countless individuals and the critical health care infrastructure needed to respond to this crisis. I am confident she will bring the same leadership to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as she works with the rest of the president-elect’s impressive health team to protect and improve the health of the public.
I applaud this historic nomination of Dr. Levine, which also paves the way for the first openly transgender nominee to be confirmed by the Senate, and I continue to celebrate the overall diversity represented to date in the nominations to the president-elect’s cabinet.
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The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.