Rachel Levine: Biden announces choice of HHS assistant secretary to be first transgender federal official confirmed by Senate

by



[ad_1]

Levine is currently Pennsylvania Secretary of Health and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine. She served as state medical officer in 2015 and assistant secretary of health in 2017. Levine was confirmed as state secretary of health in 2018 under the administration of Democratic Governor Tom Wolf.

Throughout his career, Levine has written on the opioid crisis, LGBTQ medicine, medicinal marijuana, eating disorders, and adolescent medicine. She graduated from Harvard College and Tulane University School of Medicine and completed her training in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

“Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the continued leadership and essential expertise we need to help people navigate this pandemic – regardless of zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability – and meet the public health needs of our country at this critical time and beyond, “Biden said in a statement.” She is a historic and highly qualified choice to help lead our administration’s health efforts. “

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris hailed Levine as “an outstanding public servant with the knowledge and experience” to help contain the coronavirus pandemic and “to protect and improve the health and well-being of the American people.”

Levine joins other candidates in the Biden administration who would make history if they were confirmed by the Senate to hold high-profile positions, including California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who was hired to lead the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Becerra would be the first Latino to lead the department if confirmed by the Senate.
In December, Biden appointed former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg to be his transportation secretary. Buttigieg would be the first LGBTQ Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate if his appointment went through the chamber.

CNN’s Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.

[ad_2]

Source link