The Senate has confirmed Erica Schwartz as CDC directorSchwartz fills a CDC leadership post vacant for nearly a yearThe 2026 Healthcare Summit on Dec. 3 will explore AI, digital modernization and moreThe Senate on Wednesday voted 51-44 to confirm Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, to serve as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As CDC leadership transitions continue to shape federal health policy, government and industry professionals can explore the priorities driving change across the health sector at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Healthcare Summit on Dec. 3. Schwartz is a U.S. health official who now leads the CDC. Schwartz also has a master’s degree in public health from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a law degree from the University of Maryland. O’Neill had served as acting CDC director while also holding the role of HHS deputy secretary.