Rachel Levine, who is currently serving as Pennsylvania’s Health Secretary, has been chosen by Joe Biden to be his assistant secretary of health.
Levine has a long history of medicine and public service. She’s Harvard educated and attended the Tulane School of Medicine. She was a pediatrician by trade, and later became a Pennsylvania physician general, as well as holding her spot as the state’s Health Secretary.
According to NBC News, Biden said of Levine,
“Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond. She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration’s health efforts.”
Dr. Levine is now poised to be America’s first openly-trans federal official to be sworn in by the Senate. But her road to the Biden administration hasn’t been easy. Throughout her career, she’s had to face constant transphobia, and as Pennsylvania’s main voice on the COVID-19 pandemic, she’s also had to endure the endless harassment of Trumpers and COVID-deniers.
Fortunately, Dr. Levine is receiving the respect and recognition she deserves by being brought onboard to the Biden administration to help usher in a brighter, healthier era for Americans of all backgrounds.
