Having worked with the CDC on immunization, respiratory, and other infectious diseases since 1988, she served as the Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health at the CDC from February 2009 to June 2009. She has also held other posts in the CDC.[9]
During the 2001 anthrax attacks, Schuchat served on CDC's Anthrax Emergency Response Team, which was tasked with investigating the attacks.[1]
From February 2009 to June 2009, Schuchat was the Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program at the CDC, where she focused on ensuring strong science and programmatic approaches were effectively integrated into planning across the agency. She has emphasized prevention of infectious diseases in children. Her emphasis on perinatal group B streptococcal disease prevention has led to an 80 percent reduction in newborn infections and a 75 percent narrowing of racial disparities among sufferers of this infectious disease. She has been instrumental in pre- and post-licensure evaluations of conjugate vaccines for bacterial meningitis and pneumonia and in accelerating availability of these new vaccines in resource-poor countries through WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.[9]
Schuchat has been active in the CDC's efforts to combat the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak in the United States. In a February 25, 2020 HHS briefing on the "China coronavirus" she famously stated "It’s very important to say that our efforts at containment so far have worked, and the virus is actually contained here in the United States."[13] A May 1, 2020 CDC report authored by Schuchat noted that based on this containment belief federal and local jurisdictions did not recommend restrictions on gatherings, and that several large events consequently held at the end of February played a notable role in the spread of COVID-19 in the United States.[14]
In popular culture
The fictional character of Erin Mears in the 2011 film Contagion is partially based on Schuchat and her career. British actress Kate Winslet, who portrays the character, consulted with Schuchat in the process of preparing for the role.[15]
Personal life
Schuchat is married and has no children; she has three brothers and one sister.[6][7] In May 2005, Schuchat received an honorary doctorate in science from Swarthmore College, from which she graduated in 1980.[1][8][9]
Awards and decorations
2005: Swarthmore College, Honorary Doctorate in Science[1][8][9]
^ abHadassah (August 2011). "Profile: Anne Schuchat". Hadassah. The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
^ abcCantor, Danielle (2010). "Dr. Anne Schuchat – Live". Jewish Woman Magazine. Washington, D.C.: Jewish Women International. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
^Hensley, Ellie (January 19, 2017). "CDC appoints acting director". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
^Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (September 2006). "CCID boasts numerous winners at 54th Honor Awards Ceremony". Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2014. The 54th Annual CDC & ATSDR Honor Awards Ceremony was held July 13, 2006, in the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center on the Roybal Campus. To report the awards won by CCID employees, in this summary we are using the then existing, not the proposed, names of the CCID national centers: National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), National Immunization Program (NIP), and National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP).
^Commissioned Corps Management Information System (December 2006). "Commissioned Corps Awards Oct–Dec 06"(PDF). Commissioned Corps Management Information System. United States Department of Health and Human Services. p. 8. Archived from the original(PDF) on May 28, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
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