After the sudden ousting of Susan Monarez from her role as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Jim O’Neill has been appointed as the acting director, confirmed by a White House official. O’Neill, who currently serves as the deputy to health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was sworn in as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in June. In his role, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the department and its sub-agencies, which include managing the Medicare and Medicaid programs, leading public health emergency preparedness, and shaping federal research initiatives.
On social media, O’Neill appeared to support the decision to remove Monarez and placed blame on the CDC for the lack of trust in health authorities among the public. The Washington Post was the first to report this development. It is important to note that the permanent leader of the CDC will need to be confirmed by the Senate.
Jim O’Neill brings a wealth of experience to his new role, with a background in biotech investing and previous work on pandemic preparedness, FDA reform, and public health initiatives at HHS. He has also disclosed past collaborations with vaccine makers and health companies, such as ADvantage Therapeutics and Rational Vaccines. Upon joining the administration, O’Neill pledged to end his associations with these organizations.
The announcement of O’Neill’s appointment comes at a time of uncertainty for CDC staff, who have been instructed to return to the Atlanta offices by September 15th following a tragic shooting at the headquarters in August. This staffing change is part of a larger upheaval within the agency, with several top officials resigning amidst the power struggle between Kennedy and Monarez.
In an email to staff regarding the return to the Atlanta office, Lynda Chapman was named as the new chief operating officer of the CDC, as per a reviewed email by STAT. However, the CDC website still lists Christa Capozzola as the acting COO, with no public mention of Chapman as of Thursday evening.
These recent developments mark a significant transition for the CDC as it navigates through internal changes and prepares to address public health challenges under new leadership.
