Rebuilding Trust: Dr. Mandy Cohen’s Mission to Improve the CDC’s Communication and Effectiveness

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the new director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been working to improve the agency’s communication strategies since taking office in June 2023. Her main priority is to rebuild trust and authority with the public by clearly and succinctly conveying information about COVID-19 and other health issues.

One of her first actions was to break down internal barriers within the agency, which had led to criticism over its handling of the pandemic. Dr. Cohen has faced criticism herself, such as backlash over changes to isolation guidance for COVID-19 patients, but she remains committed to her mission of improving the CDC’s effectiveness in protecting the health of the population.

To achieve this, Dr. Cohen is leading a new effort to collect real-time data from hospitals nationwide. The goal is to identify and respond to potential health crises before they escalate by understanding the full scope of illnesses that are affecting the population. This proactive approach demonstrates her dedication to improving the CDC’s effectiveness in monitoring and addressing public health concerns.