Meet Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the New Director of the CDC
On January 21, 2021, President Biden announced his nomination for the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Dr. Rochelle Walensky. As one of the leading experts on infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS in the country, Dr. Walensky is uniquely suited to lead us through this pandemic and beyond. Let’s take a deeper dive into her incredible story.
Rochelle Walensky Biography Profile
| Name | Rochelle Walensky |
| Real Name | Rochelle Walensky |
| Age | 53 years old |
| Date of Birth | 5 April 1969 |
| State of Origin | Rochelle Paula Bersoff |
| Nationality | USA |
| Religion | Christian |
| Tribe | Not Known |
| Occupation | Physician-scientist |
| Work | Director of the Centers for Disease Control |
| Known for | Not Known |
| Gender | Female |
| Spouse | Loren D. Walensky |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | Edward H. Bersoff |
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
Dr. Rochelle Walensky was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she attended Stuyvesant High School—a prestigious public magnet school—and graduated with honors in 1990. She went on to Harvard College for her undergraduate degree and then earned both a medical degree from Harvard Medical School and a master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard Chan School of Public Health in 2000. From there, she completed her residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before joining Harvard Medical School as an instructor in 2005.
In 2006, Dr. Walensky was appointed director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she established a world-renowned program that focused on HIV care and research in resource-limited settings around the world including Haiti, Uganda, Rwanda, Lesotho and South Africa. In addition to her research activities on HIV/AIDS treatment programs worldwide, she also served as codirector of AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), chairperson of ACTG’s Microbicide Working Group, cochairman of NIH AIDS Clinical Trials Group Network Leadership Committee, principal investigator for two ACTG network sites at MGH/Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates site network as well as principal investigator for multiple NIH funded grants related to HIV/AIDS clinical trials research activities worldwide over nearly 20 years prior to joining CDC as Director this year 2021!
In 2013 she joined the faculty at Yale University School of Medicine as Professor of Medicine (infectious diseases) & Pediatrics (infectious diseases). During this time she also served as Chief Medical Officer for Care Management Technologies Inc., a health care management software company providing services for persons living with chronic illness or disability due to injury or disease since 2016 until recently when nominated by President Joe Biden to become Director at CDC!
Dr. Walensky’s impressive career has earned her numerous awards including being named one of 12 Women Leaders in HIV Research by POZ Magazine; Boston Magazine Top Doctor; New England Super Doctor; Best Doctors in America Award; Boston Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award; Harvard School Public Health Recognition Award; UNAIDS Scientific Expert Panel Member; International AIDS Society – USA Board Member; International Community Advisory Board Member; American Academy of HIV Medicine Fellow & many other recognitions!
Conclusion:
It’s clear that Dr. Rochelle Walensky is well-equipped to handle the immense task ahead of her leading our nation through this pandemic out of passion for medicine & public health combined with her proven experience managing highly complex scientific projects across global settings make her an ideal candidate! With so much knowledge & expertise under her belt we can have faith that she will do an amazing job helping us beat this virus head on & bring us closer together again soon! We wish Dr. Rochelle Walensky much success moving forward!
