I’ve now had the privilege of interviewing several directors of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and never has the mission of protecting the public’s health seemed so daunting as it does for the newest director, Dr. Mandy Cohen. The former health secretary for North Carolina is one month into the job and faces a score of challenges. Cohen is aware of the hurdles, and is eager to restore the public's faith in the agency. Here are some highlights from our conversation:

• On building trust: “I think trust is absolutely foundational. I think change happens at the pace of trust.”
• On the rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations: “I’m not concerned right now. But we have to keep vigilant and make sure we’re using the tools [we have] to protect ourselves.
• On the status of abortion in the U.S.: “I’m so disappointed that we are here, that we are having the conversation to revisit whether or not women should have access to health care when they need it.”