Dr. Allison Arwady, notable for leading Chicago's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will soon transition into the role of director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), institutionalizing her high-profile status.
Previously the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Arwady is set to spearhead the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, according to a Chicago Tribune article. Her tenure in Chicago involved managing health policies and supervising vaccination initiatives during COVID-19.
While respected for her handling of the pandemic, Dr. Arwady received criticism for some of her decisions, including the easing of restrictions and the return of in-person schooling. Nevertheless, accolades from both the CDC and her former colleagues brought attention to her leadership and communication skills—key assets for her new role.
Despite her departure and clashes with critics, Dr. Arwady's impact remains. Her intentions to apply her Chicago experiences to her role at the CDC are clear, demonstrated during an interview with ABC7. She stated, "I think about during COVID, or even outside of COVID, how critical it is to build partnerships, to work on communication."
Dr. Arwady's impressive resume extends beyond her Chicago tenure, having previously worked with the CDC and having a well-rounded educational background. During the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Arwady worked on the international response, as shared by the Chicago Tribune, while also earning degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and Yale.
