In her first public address, newly confirmed CDC Director Erica Schwartz, MD, JD, MPH — the first Black woman to lead the agency — made rebuilding public trust her central mission. Speaking to over 1,000 attendees at the Health Connect South conference in Atlanta, she emphasized that trust must be earned through science and transparency, and that the CDC's expertise only matters when it reaches the people who need it most.

Schwartz's remarks come at a turbulent time for the agency. Staff cuts, leadership turnover, and low morale have plagued the CDC over the past year, while the U.S. is grappling with one of its largest measles outbreaks in decades. Notably, she did not address the outbreak or vaccine policy in her speech. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya also spoke at the event, highlighting stagnant U.S. life expectancy despite major scientific advances, and calling for science to better translate into real health gains for Americans.

By the Numbers:

• 3,000+ measles cases reported in the U.S. so far
• Trust in the CDC is at an all-time low, per recent surveys
• Georgia is projected to face a significant physician shortage by 2030
• Over 1,000 decision-makers, clinicians, and innovators attended the Health Connect South conference

Why it matters: With public trust in federal health agencies eroding, the CDC's new leadership faces an uphill battle — and how Schwartz navigates hot-button issues like vaccines and disease outbreaks will shape the agency's credibility for years to come.