“[Dr. Walensky] is uniquely qualified to restore morale and public trust. She’ll marshal our finest scientists and public health experts to CDC to turn the tide on this urgent crisis we’re facing today.”

President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Steve and Deborah Gorlin MGH Research Scholar, has been a leading infectious diseases researcher for decades.

She has conducted influential research on HIV/AIDS, making her one of the nation’s leading experts on virus testing, prevention and treatment. Dr. Walensky has served on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts, leading infection control and treatment efforts at Mass General, communicating with the public on best practices for staying safe, conducting research on vaccine delivery and identifying strategies to reach underserved communities.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden introduced the team of health experts he has appointed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic after he takes office on January 20, 2021, including Dr. Walensky, who has been appointed as the new Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While she will be sorely missed at Mass General, we could not be more proud to have an accomplished physician and researcher join the team of scientists that will lead the nation.

In case you missed it, here is a recap of the President-elect’s remarks, as well as Dr. Walensky’s inspiring acceptance speech.

President-Elect Joe Biden

“[Dr. Walensky] is one of the nation’s foremost experts on testing, treatment and eradication of viruses.

“She has served on the front lines of the COVID crisis and has conducted groundbreaking research on vaccine delivery, including how to reach underserved communities that are too often hit first hardest and treated last.

“Dr. Walensky’s work was instrumental in helping the world mitigate the public health crises of HIV/AIDS. It inspired her as a young doctor to pursue her pioneering research in virus containment, and now she will bring her expertise to bear against COVID-19.

“She’s uniquely qualified to restore morale and public trust. She’ll marshal our finest scientists and public health experts to CDC to turn the tide on this urgent crisis we’re facing today.”

Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH

“Mr. President-elect and Madam Vice President-elect. I am honored by the trust you have placed in me to serve the American people during this critical time.

“I want to thank my amazing husband and our three wonderful sons for answering this call along with me. As all doctors and public servants know, these jobs ask a great deal—not only of us—but of our families.

“As a medical student, I saw firsthand how the HIV virus ravaged bodies and communities. Inside the hospital, I witnessed people lose strength and hope. Outside the hospital, I witnessed those same patients–mostly gay men and members of vulnerable communities–be stigmatized and marginalized by their nation and many of its leaders.

“A scientific breakthrough came in 1995 when the FDA approved the first AIDS cocktail, and we saw the first glimmers of hope. I’ve dedicated my career ever since to researching and treating infectious diseases and to ending the HIV/AIDS crisis for good.

“Now, a new virus is ravaging us. It’s striking hardest, once again, at the most vulnerable, the marginalized, the underserved. The pain is accelerating. Our defenses have worn down. We are losing life and hope at an alarming rate.

“I never anticipated I would take on a role helping lead our national response, and government service was never part of my plan. But every doctor knows that when a patient is coding, your plans don’t matter. You answer the code.

“And when the nation is coding, if you are called to serve, you serve. You run to take care of people, to stop the bleeding, to stabilize, to give them hope and a fighting chance to come back stronger. That’s what doctors do.

“I’m honored to work with an administration that understands that leading with science is the only way to deliver breakthroughs, to deliver hope and to bring our nation back to full strength.

“To the American people and to each and every one of you at the CDC: I promise to work with you to harness the power of American science, to fight this virus and prevent unnecessary illness and deaths so that we can all get back to our lives.

“Mr. President-elect Madam Vice President-elect, I thank you for this opportunity.”

Watch the full press conference on PBS News Hour:

COVID-19 Research at Mass General
Researchers and clinicians at Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute are mobilizing to develop new strategies to diagnose, treat and prevent COVID-19. Learn more.