Schwartz is a board-certified preventive medicine physician who served as the US Coast Guard's chief medical officer from 2015 to 2019 and holds both medical and law degrees.

Follow the latest news on the major headlines of the day.

Schwartz takes command of a public health agency that has lost thousands of employees, amid layoffs, resignations and leadership turmoil.

Schwartz brings new leadership to an agency without a director for nearly a year

The US Senate voted 51 to 44 on Wednesday to confirm Erica Schwartz as CDC director.