Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, has been named chief medical officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to President Donald Trump.
Trump announced the appointment in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, along with other proposed leadership changes at the federal public health agency.
The other announced nominees include Dr. Erica Schwartz for CDC director, Sean Slovenski for CDC deputy director and chief operating officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner as senior counselor for public health to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The U.S. Senate must confirm Schwartz before she assumes her role, while Shuford’s appointment does not require Senate approval.
The Texas Department of State Health Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Shuford’s planned departure from her state position or her transition timeline.
Shuford previously worked as an infectious disease physician in Austin before joining the Texas health department in 2017. She later served as the state’s chief epidemiologist and became commissioner in 2022.
During her tenure, Shuford worked on Texas’ COVID-19 response and later participated in the state response to a measles outbreak in West Texas that reported 762 cases and two child deaths. The outbreak marked the largest U.S. measles outbreak in 30 years, according to state health officials.
Shuford has publicly supported vaccination efforts. During the measles outbreak, she said on Texas Standard that the measles vaccine “is highly effective” and contributed to the elimination of measles in the United States in 2000.
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials said in a statement that it supports Shuford’s appointment, citing her experience in public health leadership.
Former CDC chief medical officer Dr. Debra Houry left the position in August, along with other officials, citing concerns about changes in the agency’s scientific direction under its current leadership.
