Mandy Cohen

Mandy Cohen is an American physician and public health administrator serving as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate in 2023, she leads the nation's premier public health agency. Cohen previously served as the secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services under Governor Roy Cooper, where she managed the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina.

Early life and education

Mandy Krauthamer was born in Montclair, New Jersey, and developed an early interest in medicine and public service. She completed her undergraduate studies at Cornell University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Cohen then pursued a dual degree program at Harvard University, where she received both a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School and a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her academic training combined clinical medicine with population health strategy, laying the foundation for her career in health policy and administration.

Career

Following her education, Cohen began her career in public service at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, working to improve healthcare quality. She later served as a senior advisor at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. At CMS, she held several leadership roles, including chief operating officer and chief of staff, where she focused on payment reform and value-based care initiatives. Her work at the federal level involved collaboration with agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

In July 2023, Cohen was sworn in as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, succeeding Rochelle Walensky. Her appointment came during a period focused on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening the agency's core public health functions. Key priorities for her tenure include modernizing public health data systems, addressing health equity, and preparing for future threats such as mpox and avian influenza. She also oversees the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and works closely with the World Health Organization on global health security.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Cohen served as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from January 2017 to January 2022, appointed by Governor Roy Cooper. She managed one of the largest state agencies, overseeing divisions including Medicaid, Public Health, and Mental Health. A central achievement was leading the state's coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which involved partnerships with the University of North Carolina, Duke University, and major hospital systems like Atrium Health. She also advanced the North Carolina Medicaid Transformation to a managed care model and launched the Healthy Opportunities Pilots program to address social drivers of health.

Personal life

Cohen is married to Samuel Cohen, and the couple has two daughters. The family resides in Atlanta, following her appointment to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her father, Michael Krauthamer, was a noted physician specializing in ophthalmology in New Jersey. Cohen has been recognized with numerous awards for her leadership, including being named one of Modern Healthcare's "Top 25 Women Leaders."

Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:American physicians Category:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Cornell University alumni