In view of tackling the covid-19 pandemic, U.S. President elect Joe Biden and Vice President elect Kamala Harris announced their advisory council consisting of some of the nations leading doctors and scientists.
Yale School of Medicine professor Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, noted for advising Gov. Ned Lamont on Connecticut’s pandemic reopening strategy, has been named one of three co-chairs of President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus task force.
Dr. Nunez-Smith is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Public Health, and Management; Founding Director of the Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC); Director of the Center for Research Engagement (CRE); Deputy Director of the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation; Core Faculty in the National Clinician Scholars Program; Research Faculty in the Global Health Leadership Initiative; Director of the Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership; and Co-Director of the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship.
In a statement released Monday, Nunez-Smith said she was “honored” to serve on Biden’s task force, emphasizing the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people of color.
“Everyone is affected by this pandemic, yet the burden is disproportionate,” Nunez-Smith said. “We know communities of color are grieving at high rates and are facing substantial economic impact. The transition advisory board is setting a course for everyone in our country to experience recovery.”
At a news briefing Monday, Lamont noted Nunez-Smith’s appointment, while Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer, was also full of praise for her work as part of the reopening group.
“Marcella was one of the key leaders on the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group,” Geballe said. ”She was very influential in actions we took … [such as] focused testing in our cities, additional supports for people who need to quarantine and isolate who may not have room in their homes.
“Her thinking is woven throughout our COVID response, and we’re so proud that she was chosen for this tremendous responsibility. ”
Previously, Nunez-Smith was member of Lamont’s ReOpen Connecticut Advisory Group, co-chairing the community committee.
Joining Nunez-Smith, Kessler and Murthy, Biden’s task force includes ten other experts from across the country, including Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel.
“Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is one of the most important battles our administration will face, and I will be informed by science and by experts,” Biden said in a statement. “The advisory board will help shape my approach to managing the surge in reported infections; ensuring vaccines are safe, effective, and distributed efficiently, equitably, and free; and protecting at-risk populations.”
