HHS’ Admiral Rachel Levine: Managing Her History-Making Role While Focused on the Nation’s Health

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Margaret ( 00:01 ):
Recorded on location at Aspen Ideas: Health in Aspen, Colorado.
Mark ( 00:12 ):
We're on location at Aspen Ideas: Health, and we're talking today with Admiral Rachel Levine, Assistant
Secretary of Health for the US Department of Health & Human Services.
Rachel ( 00:24 ):
We'll see what happens next year, and the potential for next term, and I absolutely would be willing to
do that, because I firmly believe in the Biden-Harris administration and the principles that they advocate
for and they represent.
Margaret ( 00:38 ):
Admiral Levine made history when the Senate confirmed her for this important role during the height of
the COVID pandemic, and now, we're going to learn the assistant secretary's newest concerns as she
continues her important focus on the health of the nation.
Rachel ( 00:52 ):
We have released a heat health index looking at the zip code level about all the different factors that
would influence extreme heat, but then, other factors, as well, that would influence the health of
people, other aspects of the social determinants of health.
Margaret ( 01:09 ):
And this is Conversations on Health Care.
Mark ( 01:20 ):
Well, Admiral, welcome back to Conversations on Health Care.
Rachel ( 01:23 ):
Well, thank you, I'm very pleased to be here in such an amazingly beautiful setting.
Mark ( 01:27 ):
And so intellectually stimulating. But before we get to some of the conversations that are going on
around here, it's still June, it's Pride Month, happy pride, and we thought maybe we'd talk to you a little
bit about the work that you and your colleagues have been doing around the country on this very
important matter.
Rachel ( 01:45 ):
Well, thank you very much, and happy pride. And so, health equity and equality are fundamental to
everything that the Biden-Harris administration represents, and so, we are working with Health &
Human Services under Secretary Becerra's leadership about health equity, and particularly during Pride
Month and around the year for health equity for the LGBTQIA+ community. And so, all of our principals,
as well as the secretary, have been out and about doing events and roundtables and discussions about
health equity for our community, and I have been all over the DC area, and then, other places all over

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the country talking about this, as well. It is so important to emphasize health equity for our community
and all of the different challenges and health disparities that we have.
Mark ( 02:35 ):
But there's so much energy around the country, I know we see it in terms of our own home
communities that we serve. Very important to celebrate this time.
Rachel ( 02:43 ):
Well, thank you so much, I really feel that energy, as well, and that's why I always say that pride gives
me hope, pride gives me hope for the future. And you see that in our community and with all of our
allies during Pride Month, and we have to continue up those efforts, though, all year long, all year long-
Mark ( 03:04 ):
Absolutely.
Rachel ( 03:04 ):
... to benefit our community and to deal with the health disparities that the community suffers from.
Margaret ( 03:11 ):
And I'll tell you, we've seen it as a competitive hiring advantage, I think, when we interview young
people, especially, whatever their background, they want to work for a place that believes that this is a
positive force.
Rachel ( 03:22 ):
Well, I am such a firm believer and advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Margaret ( 03:29 ):
That's right.
Rachel ( 03:30 ):
Now, DEIA has taken its hits lately and has been criticized, but I think that's for political and ideological
purposes.
Margaret ( 03:38 ):
Yeah, not what we see with the young people. Absolutely.
Rachel ( 03:39 ):
That's great. Well, young people are always our hope, and so, it is so important that we have a diverse
set of opinions and perspectives for really, any organization in government or in the private sector.
Mark ( 03:51 ):
We've added the word justice to equity, diversity, inclusion, so we say it's Jedi.
Margaret ( 03:51 ):

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Jedi.
Rachel ( 03:57 ):
Jedi, I love that.
Mark ( 03:58 ):
So we're very [inaudible 00:03:59].
Rachel ( 03:59 ):
And of course, from the original Star Wars era, so I understand.
Margaret ( 04:03 ):
Of course, of course. Well, Admiral, you are so admired and so respected for so many reasons, including
being the first transgender person to be approved by the US Senate to an administrative position.
Confirmed by the US Senate, I should say. So we wanted to ask you, would you ever be willing to go
through another confirmation process, and do you think you might have that coming up in your future?
Rachel ( 04:23 ):
Well, we'll see what happens next year, and the potential for next term. And I absolutely would be
willing to do that, because I firmly believe in the Biden-Harris administration and the principles that they
advocate for and they represent.
Mark ( 04:38 ):
I want to talk a little bit about bird flu, and former CDC director Robert Redfield said he thinks bird flu
will enter humans, and his sort of prognostication is significant mortality. What's your sense of what's
happening out there?
Rachel ( 04:54 ):
Well, we don't know that right now, and so, it depends upon what time period you're looking at over the
next 100 years or more. So pandemics do happen, and of course, we have just come out of the acute
phase of the biggest pandemic that we have seen since the 1918 influenza pandemic. So we don't know
the future, but we certainly know that there are many challenges that we have to prepare for. And so,
that is what the Biden-Harris administration is doing with their new Office of Public Health
Preparedness, led by retired General Friedrich. And then, our secretary, and then, our work with the
CDC and ASPR, and really across HHS, is that, we recognize the challenges with H5N1, and we're working
with our colleagues at the USDA in terms of the cattle herds that have been impacted and the three
individuals that have had mild forms of H5N1 in the United States. And we are working together every
day across HHS with USDA, with the White House and more, to make sure that we are prepared
whatever the eventuality is.
Mark ( 06:03 ):
But a better early warning system than we've had before.
Rachel ( 06:07 ):

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We do, we have a better warning system, and we have to even make it even better.
Mark ( 06:12 ):
[inaudible 00:06:12].
Rachel ( 06:11 ):
So there's always continued improvements that we can make, but we are working on that every day.
Margaret ( 06:17 ):
Well, we know that you never can take your eye off what's going on around the world in terms of
potential threats to the global public health. Early in my career as a public health nurse, I remember
mastering what I had to about syphilis so I could treat it, and thinking, I'm never going to see this again,
probably, in my career. But that didn't happen, and now, we really think we're seeing a re-emergence of
syphilis in all populations, including, of course, babies. And we hear that you have some important news,
perhaps, about point of care testing?
Rachel ( 06:45 ):
That's exactly right.
Margaret ( 06:46 ):
Tell us about that, share that.
Rachel ( 06:47 ):
So what's old is new, and I remember diagnosing and treating syphilis in my residency program and my
fellowship in the '80s, and we had very few cases of syphilis globally, in the United States, around the
end of the '90s and in 2000, but now, syphilis is backed globally and in the United States, primary and
secondary syphilis, and then, of course, congenital syphilis. And so, we have started a Syphilis Task Force
across HHS, including, also, the DOD, the Defense Health Agency, and the VA, and we're looking at all of
the different data and prevalence of syphilis. We're looking at screening and testing for syphilis, we're
looking at different treatments, the syndemic aspect and the equity aspects, as we were saying, and of
course, how to communicate that to the public. So one important, relatively new opportunity are rapid
point of care tests for syphilis, and they have tremendous opportunities with some challenges, no test is
perfect, but it is, I think, the right test at the right time. And in the last couple of weeks, we released a
point of care considerations document from the Syphilis Task Force-
Margaret ( 08:03 ):
Wonderful.
Rachel ( 08:04 ):
... so that these rapid point of care tests, they can diagnose this within 15 minutes. Can be done in
emergency departments, in sexually transmitted disease clinics, in urgent care centers, and more, and I
think they have a new opportunity. The other new thing that was just released from the CDC, as well, is
a doxy PEP protocol-
Margaret ( 08:04 ):

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Yeah, we were just reading about this, yep.
Rachel ( 08:27 ):
... doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis protocol. And that is, again, the right thing at the right time,
where one dose of 200 milligrams of doxycycline can be prescribed by medical care providers or
someone who has been exposed, potentially, to sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, and it
has shown to be very effective in preventing the clinical manifestations preventing that disease. So with
those opportunities, I think we're going to make progress.
Margaret ( 09:02 ):
Great.
Rachel ( 09:02 ):
There's one more thing I'd like to mention, if you don't mind-
Margaret ( 09:04 ):
Yeah, please, please.
Rachel ( 09:04 ):
... is that we have been having a shortage of the treatment of choice for syphilis, which is penicillin,
particularly Bicillin L-A, or long-acting. Now, that is produced in the United States by Pfizer, and we have
had significant discussions with Pfizer on a regular basis. And I really want to highlight, they're working
with us really carefully, they're understanding the significant public health challenge, and they are
working very hard to increase and ramp up their production to meet the needs of the moment. I'm
going to have the opportunity to visit their plant later, by the end of the summer-
Margaret ( 09:42 ):
Come up to Connecticut.
Rachel ( 09:43 ):
... and we're going to be working with them ... Well, actually, their plant is in Michigan.
Mark ( 09:44 ):
Michigan.
Rachel ( 09:48 ):
Too bad.
Margaret ( 09:49 ):
It's in Rochester, Michigan. And I just really want to commend them for the work that they're doing, and
they're working right with us to increase production so we can appropriately respond to the challenge of
the moment.
Mark ( 10:00 ):

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I want to get back to syphilis, and really, while the science is there, what about the communication, the
elimination of stigma? How are we addressing that? Because we've got the science part under control,
what are you seeing around the country, the best effective measure of communicating with people?

Rachel ( 10:15 ):
Well, we need to communicate with the public, we have learned how important that is, public health
communications, during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. And so, we are working that, we
have a specific subcommittee with our office and CDC and the Indian Health Service and HRSA and more,
working to communicate all of these issues that we've been discussing to the public that needs it most.
There is a strong health equity issue and a syndemic aspect to this, with the cluster of different issues of
HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, including syphilis and substance use,
particularly fentanyl-related compounds and methamphetamine. And so, we need to get our message to
the communities that need the most, including the black African-American community, the American
Indian, Alaska native community, and our LGBTQIA+ community, with gay and bisexual men, and other
men who have sex with men.

Margaret ( 11:16 ):
Well, hopefully all the work that you've done around making PrEP something available in communities
and health centers, offices on mobile health units, which seems to be one of the new ways to get it out
there, hopefully, this will help us get there faster.

Rachel ( 11:28 ):
If someone is at risk of HIV and is getting PrEP, which is such a fantastic advance, then they should be
tested for hepatitis and they should be tested for syphilis. Unfortunately, we don't have a vaccine for
syphilis, and I know that type of research continues at the NIH and more, but in the meantime, we have
a lot of tools, and we're going to put those tools to use.

Margaret ( 11:49 ):
Great. Well, here we are in Aspen, in addition to the cottonwoods, we've also been treated to cool
nights, breezy days, sunshine, and yet, at the same time, we know, across the country, and particularly
on the East Coast right now, but we've also seen it out West, people are really suffering under extreme
heat. And I know the Biden-Harris administration has just released a plan for dealing with extreme heat,
particularly in communities that are most affected by it and where we see the biggest inequities from
climate change and increased heat. Tell us about that.

Rachel ( 12:20 ):
So that's exactly right. So through our work with our Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, as well
as with the CDC and more, we have released a heat health index looking at the zip code level about all
the different factors that would influence extreme heat, but then, other factors, as well, that would
influence the health of people, other aspects of the social determinants of health. And so, this is at the
zip code level in the continental United States, and it's really an important tool for us in the federal
government, but also, for state and local governments, to look at different jurisdictions that are going to
be most at risk of heat and heat impacting health and influencing people most at risk, including children
and babies, but also, seniors, and also, workers that have to work in that heat. So you're exactly right,
we are seeing heat related injury and health problems throughout the United States and globally, and
that certainly impacts and shows the impact of climate change on health.

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Margaret ( 13:28 ):
Are you seeing anything already from last week?
Rachel ( 13:30 ):
We are.
Margaret ( 13:31 ):
At the federal level?
Rachel ( 13:32 ):
Well, we are seeing significant health impacts, with people getting very ill, and even some deaths to the
heat along the East Coast and in the Midwest, and that has been seen, actually, throughout the world.
Mark ( 13:46 ):
In our day jobs, we run a large federally qualified health center, and we know with young people coming
in, we have this conversation about the environment. And unless we strike that note about the
environment, we're going to lose a whole generation of young people into the public health arena
because we are tone-deaf about the environment, and so, kudos to the Biden-Harris administration
around the environment. But let's talk a little larger about climate and the catastrophes that are
happening out there, and there's been conversations here today. How would you frame up about where
we are in terms of, not survivability, but how the planet is doing?
Rachel ( 14:25 ):
Absolutely. Well, first, I want to give a shout-out to federally qualified health centers, our community
health centers. You all do absolutely fantastic work-
Mark ( 14:26 ):
Thank you.
Rachel ( 14:32 ):
... and really work towards the common good and help people, so thank you.
Mark ( 14:37 ):
[inaudible 00:14:37].
Rachel ( 14:36 ):
So 2023 was the hottest year on record. We're on track to beat that in '24. And 2023 might be the
coolest year that we ever see in our lifetime, because the impacts of climate change and extreme heat.
But there are many other climate-related challenges that we're seeing, including extreme storms,
hurricanes, and more, but also, other storms across the continental United States that are exacerbated,
that are stoked by climate change. We're also seeing the impacts of sea level rise on our coasts, we're
seeing the impact of forest fires and the resulting smoke, which are common here in the West, but we
saw even in Washington DC and was seen in New York City last summer. We're also seeing the increase

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in vector-borne diseases, particularly dengue, which is a mosquito-borne disease in many parts of South
America and to the Caribbean-
Mark ( 15:36 ):
Right, coming up.
Rachel ( 15:36 ):
... and more, coming up because of the ... The range of the mosquitoes is increasing because of climate
change. In Pennsylvania, where I'm from, we have seen an increase in Lyme disease to every county in
Pennsylvania, where previously, a number of years ago, it was only in the warmer Southeast. So we are
seeing these impacts of climate change on health, and health is finally at the table in terms of the
climate discussion. The secretary has a seat on the National Climate Task Force, I had the opportunity to
go to COP28 in Dubai, where we had the first ever Climate and Health Day to talk about these issues
globally. And so, the Biden-Harris administration is committed to addressing the root causes of climate
change and the health impacts.
Mark ( 16:23 ):
What's your message to the K to 12-year-olds about how they can participate in helping improve the
environment?
Rachel ( 16:30 ):
Well, my message to the young people, and again, I'm a pediatrician, adolescent medicine specialist-
Mark ( 16:35 ):
[inaudible 00:16:35].
Rachel ( 16:35 ):
... is, I'm a positive and optimistic person, and my message is the message of hope for the future. The
young people are our future, and we want them to understand the realistic challenges that we face, but
to work towards the changes that we need to make, but to have hope for our future. Climate impacts
our health impacts, and so, they really go together, and altogether, we're going to make the changes
that are necessary.
Margaret ( 17:04 ):
Well, I appreciate that vote of confidence in forward motion. We're here at Aspen, there've been a lot of
discussions on different panels. Anything that jumped out at you that people are speaking to in terms of
addressing catastrophic climate change?
Rachel ( 17:18 ):
Well, we just had a panel, for example, with Dr. Vanessa Kerry, and another woman that actually is from
the South Pacific. And it was a very interesting panel about the global aspects of climate change, and
then, from my perspective, the domestic aspects of climate change, and all the work that we need to do.
And the world is watching, our young people are watching.
Margaret ( 17:44 ):

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Exactly, as Mark said.
Rachel ( 17:45 ):
And they're not just seeing what we say, they are watching-
Margaret ( 17:48 ):
Our world, yeah.
Rachel ( 17:49 ):
... as young people do, is what we do. What are we doing to impact that? And we're going to do
everything we can to do that. Our work with our Office of Climate Change and Health Equity is working
with the health sector on, one, resilience to the impacts of climate change, and then, also, actually to
work towards decarbonization with money from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Margaret ( 18:10 ):
Perfect.
Rachel ( 18:11 ):
So that was a very impactful session. I've heard there've been other sessions about food and nutrition
security, which is absolutely critical, as well as Food as Medicine. So, so many vibrant topics at Aspen
Health Ideas.
Mark ( 18:28 ):
One of the challenges I think America faces, and maybe globally, is that people are not trusting science,
and adding fuel to that fire is that there's been a number of research misconducts that have been
identified. And we've had a conversation with Dr. Kirsten Domingo, Bibbons-Domingo about the work
she's doing. But I know this is important to you about establishing trust in science-
Rachel ( 18:57 ):
That's exactly right.
Mark ( 18:57 ):
... and we're trying to build that back. Talk through what the problems are and how we're going to go
about in trying to solve this.
Rachel ( 19:04 ):
Sure. Well, there are two aspects of that, which I think are very important. The first is the mistrust in
science itself and the misinformation and overt disinformation, particularly on social media, about
science, and for example, about the health and safety of vaccines. Vaccines are one of the victories of
public health in the 20th and 21st century, and so, it is so important that we keep up our childhood
immunizations, our adolescents and adult immunizations, that we keep up immunizations for influenza
and for COVID-19, as well, across the United States and globally. So we're continuing to work and try to
refine our public health communications.
( 19:47 ):

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In terms of research, actually, within my office, of the Assistant Secretary for Health, we have an Office
of Research Integrity, looking at just the things you talked about, research misconduct, and working to
investigate that and take appropriate actions, working with the NIH and working with Academic
Medicine and with other research institutions. So it's an absolutely critical, important office that is
absolutely a priority, because we have to make sure that the research that we put out there is accurate
and has no miscommunication in itself.

Mark ( 20:27 ):
And I want to get back to communications and social media. And one hand, social media is a sinkhole of
maybe disinformation, but on the other hand, it's what young people are listening to. How are you
rethinking, reimagining the delivery of very vital information on things like TikTok and other means that
young people are listening to?

Rachel ( 20:48 ):
Well, the federal government doesn't use TikTok, but we do use other mediums such as X, formerly
known as Twitter, as well as Instagram and other platforms.

Mark ( 20:59 ):
I'm thinking about my kids.

Rachel ( 21:00 ):
Okay, so we are on those platforms, and we are using those platforms, and we want to make sure that
we work with trusted messengers for young people and adults to get the word out about public health
and such important topics such as vaccinations. But there's another side to social media for young
people, and that's one of the things that our fantastic surgeon general-

Mark ( 21:27 ):
[inaudible 00:21:27].

Rachel ( 21:26 ):
... Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy, is talking about. And he put out an amazing op-ed a week or so ago in the
New York Times, and he had a previous surgeon general's advisory about some of the potential dangers
of social media for young people, particularly young adolescents, and how they can be misled on social
media, how it can come to dominate their life, how they can be bullied on social media, and social
media harassment, and he wants to put out a surgeon general's warning about this. Now, that will take
an act of Congress to be able to do that, but I think that his op-ed has set a marker for conversation and
discussion, and it certainly has gotten that. There has been a lot of conversation about that, and then,
different ways that we can protect young people and protect our society from some of the negative
sides of social media. And so, I think it's a very important conversation to have, and I applaud Dr.
Murthy, our surgeon general, in starting and continuing and enhancing that conversation.

Margaret ( 22:32 ):
Yeah, we've been following his ... I think he spoke here last year, if I'm not mistaken-

Rachel ( 22:36 ):

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He'll be here tomorrow.
Margaret ( 22:36 ):
... and it was so impactful. Your reach is pretty vast in your position-
Rachel ( 22:42 ):
Oh, well, thank you.
Margaret ( 22:42 ):
... so much to think about. But we talked a little bit about mental health with the children and social
media, but mental health generally has really taken a very prominent place in the administration's focus.
Rachel ( 22:53 ):
It has.
Margaret ( 22:54 ):
I think you were on a panel here speaking to mental health-
Rachel ( 22:57 ):
I was.
Margaret ( 22:57 ):
... issues, workforce, community support, digital tools. Tell me what you're feeling hopeful about and
what you see as maybe pragmatically likely to get some more attention in the coming year.
Rachel ( 23:08 ):
Sure. Well, we have certainly seen significant mental health challenges across the United States and
globally that has been exacerbated by the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. And so, we are seeing
significant mental health challenges, again, I'm a pediatrician, adolescent medicine specialist, in young
people, but adults, as well, and seniors, and across the lifespan. So there has been a tremendous
amount of work called for by the president and the vice president, and then, work through the
leadership of our secretary, with all of the divisions at HHS on this. So of course, SAMHSA, the Substance
Abuse Mental Health Service Administration, has a lot of work in terms of mental health for youth and
adults, HRSA, as well, the Health Resources and Service Administration, CMS coverage for that work, as
well as working on parity, insurance coverage, parity for mental health. And so, lots of work being done
on access, on the workforce, on telemental health and more. And so, I think we're starting to make a
difference, I think we're starting to see a change, but there's much more work to go.
( 24:20 ):
The other aspect of that with mental health that I want to emphasize is the disease of addiction and the
overdose crisis that we're seeing, particularly with fentanyl-related compounds, but then, other novel
compounds such as xylazine, which is a veterinary anesthetic. And so, with our secretary's Overdose
Prevention Strategy, working on prevention in all of its aspects, harm reduction, harm reduction,
including Naloxone and other overdose prevention agents, fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips,
evidence-based syringe service programs and more, treatment for addiction, particularly medication for

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opioid use disorder, with buprenorphine and other compounds, and then, getting people into recovery
using peer specialists and more. And we are just starting to see an impact, just starting to see a leveling
out, but it still is a crisis that we're emphasizing.
Margaret ( 25:19 ):
We follow that by community and zip code level-
Rachel ( 25:21 ):
That's right.
Margaret ( 25:22 ):
... and when you think of a small city and 160 people in a year lost to opioid overdose, it's just tragic.
Rachel ( 25:29 ):
It is tragic, and it's something I've been working on throughout my career in public service, starting in
Pennsylvania, with a standing order prescription for Naloxone for the state, and then, including my work
here, in collaboration with Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon, and then, many others in the
administration that are concentrating on. Dr. Mandy Cohen is also concentrating on that-
Margaret ( 25:29 ):
Yep, perfect.
Rachel ( 25:51 ):
... with the CDC, as well. So we are committed to making an impact,
Mark ( 25:56 ):
Yeah, and it's so important, we say that social isolation is the modern-day leprosy, and trying to figure
out how we help build communities. Because again, we have some of the science where we can help
prevent that, but again, I think young people are feeling the sense of isolation. We could point at social
media, but there are many factors-
Rachel ( 26:15 ):
Many factors.
Mark ( 26:16 ):
... that go into it.
Rachel ( 26:17 ):
So it's important to emphasize ... Of course, the surgeon general has also been talking about loneliness
and social isolation, as well. And at this point, I think it's critically important to mention the 988 hotline,
the 988 suicide and mental health hotline, and how important that is-
Mark ( 26:36 ):
[inaudible 00:26:36].

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Rachel ( 26:36 ):
... to have a trained professional that can talk with someone. It's available throughout the country. It
even has a prompt, prompt three, through text, chat, or texting, or phone calls, for young people in the
LGBTQIA+ community-

Mark ( 26:54 ):
So important.

Rachel ( 26:55 ):
... for someone that is trained with our community to be able to respond. So 988 is so critically
important.

Margaret ( 27:02 ):
Well, I know that we have talked about COVID, long COVID, and everything COVID, for years in events,
but I'm going to swing back to long COVID again for a minute and ask if there's anything on the agenda
that you're working on, on long COVID. Because like so many things, this is affecting a group of people
profoundly, and yet, we don't see too much coming out in terms of treatment and resolution. We're
learning some new things from research, but update us.

Rachel ( 27:30 ):
Well, long COVID is critically important, and it is an absolute focus of our work. So long COVID is real,
that is the first thing that we want to emphasize from the beginning, because there has been
misinformation about that. So long COVID is real, but long COVID might not be one thing, it's complex,
as are other infection-related chronic illnesses, and so we are really taking an approach looking at short,
medium, and long-term successes and outcomes in order to address this. So we have our Office of Long
COVID Research and Practice, that is nested in my office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and we
are planning a coordinating role, for example, with the NIH and their RECOVER project. The RECOVER
project is going at pace, it is going as fast as humanly possible. That includes the clinical trials that are
progressing, they're going to be opening the final two clinical trials this summer.
( 28:29 ):
And it's hard to put a timetable on when clinical trials will end and when science will have a result, but
we're very hopeful for those clinical trials. We have heard that there are others working on clinical trials
and wells, and we certainly support that. In addition, we're getting very important other data from
RECOVER, as well as CDC research, as well as great research from the VA. In addition, AHRQ has nine
long COVID centers throughout the country that are working on clinical care paradigms and hub and
spokes models for that. We're working with HRSA on making sure that primary care doctors are
educated. I know that Project ECHO, which is through the University of New Mexico-

Mark ( 29:12 ):
[inaudible 00:29:12].

Rachel ( 29:11 ):
... and Dr. Arroyo has long COVID modules for education of primary care physicians. We're working with
our ACL office in terms of disability, and we work with the Social Security Administration in terms of

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disability, and then with the Labor Office, in terms of workers. So this work is happening across the
administration, it is a priority of the administration, and we have, actually, every month or so, a Long
COVID Coordinating Committee meeting, involving almost every agency administration, and we're going
to do everything we can to support people impacted by long COVID and their families in our
communities.
Margaret ( 29:52 ):
Well, that's fantastic.
Mark ( 29:55 ):
One last question, but I'm going to note that Margaret Flinter joined the Community Health Center 45
years ago as part of the Commissioned Corps-
Margaret ( 30:00 ):
It's true.
Mark ( 30:01 ):
... Scholar program-
Rachel ( 30:02 ):
That's so wonderful, I didn't know that.
Mark ( 30:04 ):
... and maybe you could tell us a little bit about the Corps, because it's such an important vital resource
to all Americans.
Rachel ( 30:10 ):
Thank you so much for emphasizing that. So one of the biggest honors that I have as the Assistant
Secretary for Health is the opportunity to take my commission and assume the uniform, and to lead with
the surgeon general, the United States Public Health Service Commission Corps, and that includes over
5,600 dedicated medical and public health professionals that serve the disadvantaged communities in
our nation and throughout the world. That includes 1500 or more officers that serve in the Indian Health
Service. We provide medical care for the Coast Guard, we provide medical care for the Federal Bureau
of Prisons. We provide medical care for ICE detention centers and in other very challenging and remote
areas of our country.
( 30:54 ):
In addition, we have great public health professionals that work at the CDC and the NIH and the FDA,
and at HRSA and SAMHSA, and throughout HHS, but also work for the National Park Service and more.
So they are absolutely fantastic officers, the surgeon general and I are working with our staff to do
everything we can to support them, to support recruitment, to support retention, to support wellness.
And we have the only uniform public health service in the world, the only uniform public health service
in the world, and it's a national treasure that we are proud to support.
Mark ( 31:36 ):

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Wonderful.
Margaret ( 31:37 ):
Well, Admiral Levine, we thank you for-
Rachel ( 31:37 ):
Thank you.
Margaret ( 31:39 ):
... your dedication, for your service, and your relentless optimism that there is a solution-
Rachel ( 31:45 ):
Thank you.
Margaret ( 31:45 ):
... to each of these major problems that we talk about. And we want to thank our audience, as always,
for joining us. Don't forget, you can find us on X, on Facebook, on YouTube, look at CHC Radio, and we
always welcome your comments and your questions. Admiral Levine, thank you, and continued courage
and strength to fight the good battle.
Rachel ( 32:06 ):
Absolutely. Thank you, we're going to fight the good fight and work towards the common good.
Margaret ( 32:08 ):
Absolutely, thank you.
Mark ( 32:09 ):
Wonderful, that's great.
Margaret ( 32:12 ):
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Inc. The views expressed by guests are their own, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinion of
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