How the next CDC director can win back America’s trust

How the next CDC director can win back America’s trust

A new STAT opinion piece featuring perspectives from GVN leadership

Tampa, FL, USA— March 31, 2026 - GVN is pleased to share a new STAT opinion piece by Dr. Charles J. Lockwood (member of the GVN board of directors; executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine), Dr. Robert C. Gallo (co-founder and international scientific director of the GVN;  founding director of the USF Institute for Translational Virology & Innovation), and Dr. Sten H. Vermund (chief medical officer of the Global Virus Network; senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the University of South Florida College of Public Health), on restoring public trust in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and strengthening the nation’s preparedness for future health threats.

About the article

Published by STAT, the piece makes the case that restoring trust in public health institutions is essential to effective pandemic preparedness.

The authors suggest six key priorities for the next Centers for U.S. Disease Control and Prevention director:

1. Strengthening infectious disease surveillance.
2. Modernizing public health data systems.
3. Building scalable diagnostic surge capacity.
4. Ensuring transparent and independent scientific integrity.
5. Improving clear and timely public communication.
6. Renewing focus on chronic disease and mental health.

As avian influenza spreads and vaccine confidence remains under pressure, the article underscores that speed, clarity, and credibility are central to protecting public health and national resilience.