HHS Preparedness Nominee Vows to Apply Lessons from Pandemic

“Be ready for the next public health emergency.”

That’s the top priority for President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the agency within the HHS that prepares for and works to stop pandemics and biohazard attacks.

“Make sure that we have the advantage of everything that we’ve learned this time” from the Covid-19 crisis, said Dawn O’Connell, who is seeking confirmation to be the Health and Human Services Department’s assistant secretary for preparedness and response (ASPR).

She testified Tuesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Republicans on the committee didn’t state how they would vote on O’Connell’s nomination ...