The Senate has confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, placing her in charge of the agency beleaguered by turmoil: resignations, deep staff cuts, and major changes to vaccine policies.

In a 51-44 vote Wednesday, the 54-year-old became the 22nd leader and the first Black woman to head the Atlanta-based public health agency. The role had been vacant for nearly a year.

On July 30, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions voted nearly along party lines Thursday to advance Schwartz’s nomination to be the next director of the CDC.

Last week, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont was among those who opposed moving Schwartz’s nomination forward.

“We have a secretary of Health and Human Services who fosters and propagates conspiracy theories on vaccines and other important issues. And the question, I think, big question before this committee: Are nominees going to be prepared to stand up to those conspiracy theories, those dangerous theories?” Sanders said. “I do not, unfortunately, think that Dr. Schwartz is prepared to do that.”

During her July 15 hearing, the physician faced senators’ questions about whether she could restore public confidence in the CDC and maintain scientific independence under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose stances on established science have sparked controversy.

Schwartz vowed not to betray science, but she repeatedly hedged or dodged when asked about whether she’d push back against Kennedy if he asked her to carry out a task that wasn’t backed by science.

“The secretary absolutely will allow me to be the CDC director,” she said. “That is why I’m sitting here before you.”

When pressed again, Schwartz insisted that she would not be unduly influenced.

“I have always stood up for what is right and what is true, and I believe that I will continue to do that,” she said. “You have my assurances that I will do that. I will never betray the science ever. I will go where the science leads us. I will not have predetermined answers to conclusions.”

Read the full article about Erica Schwartz by Brandon Tensley at Capital B News.