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Obama appoints NY public health activist to head CDC

2009-05-15 16:05:10 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com - Government Top Stories News)

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Dr. Thomas Frieden

Bethesda, Maryland (CaymanMama.com) — President Barack Obama on Friday appointed a prominent public health activist who made New York the first American city to ban smoking in public restaurants to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency tasked with shielding the U.S. from illnesses ranging from heart disease to new flu strains.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, 48, has remained New York’s top health official since 2002, and was instrumental in making New York City the nation’s first to prohibit the use of trans fats, which clogs arteries and drastically increases the risk of heart disease, from food prepared in restaurants.

“Frieden is an expert in preparedness and response to health emergencies, and has been at the forefront of the fight against heart disease, cancer and obesity, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and AIDS,” the White House said in a statement.

“Frieden has been a leader in the fight for health care reform, and his experiences confronting public health challenges in our country and abroad will be essential in this new role,” it continued.

Under Frieden’s direction, New York in 2006 unveiled the nation’s largest community-based electronic health record project in order to improve preventive care.

“I am deeply honored and privileged to be selected for this position, and I look forward to learning from and working with the wonderful staff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Frieden said in a statement.



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