For Immediate Release: January 20, 2021
Contact: Iman Karnabi, ikarnabi@ncsddc.org, 336-830-2493

Washington, DC – The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) applauds President Biden’s nomination of Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS.

Dr. Levine’s experience, including leading the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and serving as President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials give her a deep understanding of the people and institutions protecting public health in the United States. Her first-hand knowledge of the challenges health departments face will be critical to serving in her new capacity.

Statement from David C. Harvey, executive director of NCSD

We are thrilled that Biden has nominated someone with Dr. Levine’s background. With her leadership, we call on HHS to aggressively implement the new National STI Strategic Plan, which if fully funded and supported could dramatically reduce STD rates and alleviate some of our nation’s worst health inequities. The same neglect of public health programs that left the U.S. unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic is driving the STD crisis. It is time to repair the damage, and we are hopeful that the Biden-Harris administration, with Dr. Levine’s support, will be the change that is needed.