:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/AZTVMX7YAQZ4NHVHGQXYLSZXAM.jpg "USA: Rachel Levine became the first transgender four-star official")
In addition to her new duties following this historic appointment, the doctor will maintain her position as undersecretary of health in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Rachel Levine became America’s first four-star transgender admiral when she was sworn in Tuesday to head the Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service (USPHS).
Admiral Rachel Levine will serve as the head of the USPHS, and will maintain her position as deputy secretary of health for the Department of Health and Human Services, a job for which she was appointed by Biden and which made her the highest-ranking transgender official in the country.
” I am deeply honored and grateful to join the ranks of men and women in this great nation who have pledged to defend America against threats small and great, known and unknown,” Levine tweeted with a broadcast of her oath.
Thus, he will lead the force of nearly 6,000 people of public health professionals who respond to public health crises , including the administration of COVID vaccines and national emergencies on behalf of the federal government.
In March of this year, the transgender doctor Rachel Levine , nominated by the President of the United States as Undersecretary of Health , was confirmed in her position by the Senate of the country, in a historic ratification.
Levine was endorsed in office with 52 votes in favor and 48 against: all Democrats and independents in the Upper House supported her nomination , along with the support of just two Republican legislators. Several opponents criticized his handling of the Pennsylvania health crisis.
” Dr. Levine becomes the first openly transgender American to be confirmed by the Senate, at a key moment in the history of the United States, ” tweeted Matt Hill, one of the White House communications officers, on that occasion.
Until now, this pediatrician by profession had served as Pennsylvania Secretary of Health since 2017, where she has led that state’s response to the pandemic, while still being the target of numerous transphobic attacks .
From his position, Levine works under the orders of the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS, in English) of the country, the Latino Xavier Becerra , and must supervise offices and programs of this department, ten regional branches and the office of the Surgeon General, among others.
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From his position, Levine works for the country’s Secretary of Health and Human Services
Biden is marking a change of tone with respect to the government of former President Donald Trump (2017-2021) when it comes to the inclusion of transgender people, to which he has made reference in his speeches.
The president elected former mayor Pete Buttigieg to head the Department of Transportation , who is the first person of the LGTBQ + collective with a position in the government cabinet.
A graduate of Harvard and Tulane Medical School, Levine is president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine.
He has written in the past about the opioid crisis in the US, medical marijuana , teen medicine and LGTBQ +, as well as eating disorders.