Trans Admiral Rachel Levine Elected to National Academy of Medicine

It’s always a good time to applaud trans excellence, and this week surely gave us an occasion to celebrate. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) announced Monday that U.S. assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), openly trans Admiral Rachel Levine, is among 100 newly elected officials to be elected to the academy, according to an Advocate report.

Those elected were chosen by the academy because of their significant contributions to medical science, healthcare, and public health.

Along with her position in the DHHS, Levine is also a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

The academy calls election to NAM “one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine,” recognizing folks who have demonstrated “outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.”

The announcement says Levine was honored, “For her expertise in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, and being the first openly transgender official ever to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. She is a voice for federal-state cooperation, issues of health equity, and has been an outstanding leader in emergency response to addiction and overdose.”

Levine spoke out about her inclusion on Twitter last week, retweeting the NAM announcement with her own message of gratitude.

“Incredibly honored to have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine this year,” Levine writes. “Looking forward to joining the talented group of members and contributing to @theNAMedicine’s mission!”

President Biden nominated Levine for her DHHS role, which was confirmed by the Senate in 2021. She started her career as a physician, focusing on the intersection between mental and physical health, treating children, adolescents, and young adults. She was also a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine, vice-chair for Clinical Affairs for the Department of Pediatrics, and the chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

We can’t wait to see what this trailblazer does next. Sending a huge congratulations to Levine, from all of us here at OFM!

Photo courtesy of DHHS