New CDC Director Outlines Priorities in Atlanta Interview
In her first media interview in Atlanta, new CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz discussed her priorities of rebuilding public and employee trust, addressing the national measles outbreak and vaccine hesitancy, and improving agency morale.
Atlanta, GA, September 16, 2026 — In her first media interview since assuming leadership, the new Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Erica Schwartz, outlined her core priorities during an event in Atlanta. Dr. Schwartz emphasized a multi-faceted approach focused on restoring confidence in the agency, both among the public and its own workforce.
A significant focus for Dr. Schwartz involves addressing the current national measles outbreak and the persistent issue of vaccine hesitancy. The resurgence of measles, a preventable disease, has raised public health concerns, and Dr. Schwartz indicated that tackling vaccine hesitancy is a critical component of combating such outbreaks.
Beyond external challenges, Dr. Schwartz also highlighted the importance of improving morale within the CDC. Rebuilding trust among agency employees appears to be a key objective as she steers the organization forward. The specific strategies or timelines for achieving these goals were not detailed in the initial summary of the interview.
The interview marked Dr. Schwartz’s initial public remarks on her strategic vision in this capacity, setting the stage for her tenure as CDC Director. The full scope of her plans and the specific initiatives to be undertaken to achieve these stated priorities are anticipated to be revealed in subsequent communications.
Story summarized from the original created by Abby Kousouris, Atlanta First News staff on www.atlantanewsfirst.com, see more information here.
