The CDC has a new director – now comes the hard part

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Erica Schwartz as the new permanent director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As The Conversation tells it, Schwartz, a retired rear admiral, takes over as the agency manages several simultaneous crises, including a significant rise in measles cases and a major Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. The appointment comes amid concerns over a nearly one-third reduction in the agency's workforce and shifting federal vaccine recommendations. While the confirmation process creates a public record of accountability, experts say the director's success will depend on whether she can maintain scientific independence under political pressure.

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