Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as U.S. Surgeon General under President Trump’s first term, is praising the president’s choice for the next leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a CBS interview on Sunday, Adams called the nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz an “absolute home run pick.”
He said she is highly qualified and ready for the job.
Schwartz worked as Adams’ deputy when he was Surgeon General. She is a doctor, a lawyer, and a retired Navy officer.
If the Senate approves her, she would become the first Black woman to lead the CDC.
Adams, now a professor at Purdue University, said Schwartz has the skills, trust, and experience the CDC needs right now.
He added that he picked her as his deputy because he knew she could handle tough situations.
At the same time, Adams expressed some worry.
He is concerned that political leaders at the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., might put pressure on scientists and block decisions based on solid evidence.
He also criticized recent claims linking common pain medicine like Tylenol to autism, calling those ideas “dangerous and irresponsible.”
Trump announced the nomination earlier this week as part of bigger changes at the CDC.
He also named Texas public health leader Dr. Jennifer Shuford as deputy director.
Adams has been open about the new health team.
He has spoken out against another nomination and continues to share his views on public health issues.
Confirmation hearings for Schwartz are expected soon.
Many public health experts see her as a steady leader who supports vaccines and science-based policies.
Adams is the author of the book Crisis and Chaos and still works as a doctor in Indiana.
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