Mississippi Health Official Dr. Dan Edney Among CDC Director Nominee Shortlist
Dr. Dan Edney, Mississippi’s state health officer, is among the candidates being considered to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the Washington Post.
The White House faces a Thursday deadline to nominate a new CDC director, as the acting director’s term expires unless a formal nomination is submitted. The Biden administration is reportedly considering about six candidates, including former Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Johns Hopkins cardiologist Dr. Joseph Marine, the Post reported.
Selection for the role requires Senate approval, a process that changed in 2025. Edney has served as Mississippi’s health officer since August 2022, succeeding Dr. Thomas Dobbs. He previously held positions as deputy state health officer and chief medical officer in Mississippi and worked closely with Dobbs on COVID-19 response efforts.
Edney, a former president of the Mississippi State Medical Association, is a board-certified internist with a subspecialty in addiction medicine. He operated a private practice in Vicksburg for more than 30 years and declined to comment on his nomination.
Under Edney’s leadership, Mississippi has improved its public health ranking, rising to 48th out of 99 states in a report by the United Health Foundation. Despite these gains, the state continues to face high rates of preventable diseases, including heart disease and obesity, which disproportionately affect Black residents.
Edney has been an advocate for evidence-based policies and vaccination efforts. His tenure has coincided with federal court rulings that have complicated vaccination mandates and ongoing efforts by CDC officials to reshape immunization policies. The agency has been led in an acting capacity by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya since February, amid the search for a permanent director.
If confirmed, Edney would step down from his role in Mississippi, and his successor would be appointed by the state’s Board of Health, which currently has two vacant seats.
Source: Original Article
