Levine to be assistant U.S. health secretary
President-elect Joe Biden selected Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine to be the U.S. assistant secretary of health.
Once confirmed, Levine would become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
“I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve Pennsylvanians, and all Americans, as part of the Biden Administration if I am fortunate enough to be confirmed to this position,” said Levine in a statement Tuesday.
A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017.
“Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond,” Biden said in a statement. “She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration’s health efforts.”
A graduate of Harvard and of Tulane Medical School, Levine is president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
In her time before and during her current post, Levine has focused on issues such as the opioid crisis, medical marijuana, adolescent medicine, eating disorders and LGBTQ medicine. She has also been a focal point in the state’s addressing of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has truly been an honor to serve the people of Pennsylvania under the leadership of Governor Tom Wolf,” Levine said in a statement. “He is a tremendous leader with an incredible vision for Pennsylvania, and it has been a highlight of my career to serve in his administration.”
In his own statement Tuesday, Wolf commended Levine for her efforts in that regard and beyond.
“Dr. Levine is a highly skilled and valued member of my administration and she will be greatly missed,” Wolf said. “She has been a wise and dedicated partner during this pandemic and throughout her career with the commonwealth. I couldn’t be prouder of the tireless work she’s done to serve Pennsylvanians and protect the public health.”
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) also shared his thoughts on the nomination in a statement Tuesday.
“She is exactly the kind of crisis-tested leader our nation needs in the position of assistant secretary of health at the Department of Health and Human Services during this difficult time for our nation,” Casey said. “I look forward to supporting her historic nomination.”
Biden and his transition team have already begun negotiating with members of Congress, promoting speedy passage of the president-elect’s $1.9 trillion plan to bring the virus under control.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris called Levine “a remarkable public servant with the knowledge and experience to help us contain this pandemic, and protect and improve the health and well-being of the American people.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
