During Wednesday's Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) questioned Susan Monarez, President Trump's nominee to be the director of the Centers for Disease Control.
00:00I think for that, before I go to Senator Hickenlooper, I'll notice for the first time in this hearing you smiled when you asked about antimicrobial resistance. You know what I'm saying? Like, it was just a sweet spot for you. Senator Hickenlooper.
00:14Dr. Menards, thank you so much for your public service, and obviously your dedication and commitment to the work you're doing is noteworthy and, I think, laudable.
00:28You obviously have a lot of experience in technology research and development, including how to identify and treat infectious diseases.
00:39How would you incorporate this experience as, you know, if you are confirmed for this position?
00:49Thank you. And again, thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I know there's a lot going on in here, so I appreciate all of your time in meeting with me in advance.
00:58So I do have almost 30 years of experience in science, technology, and innovation.
01:03And what I will do, if I'm confirmed as a CDC director, is I want to make sure, as I laid out in my priorities, that first, that we are incorporating the latest in state-of-the-art technologies into the work that we're doing within CDC,
01:20that we're modernizing our laboratory capabilities, that we're investing in diagnostics with the level of sensitivity and specificity,
01:28that if there is an urgent outbreak, that we are able to be able to support our state and local public health officials with accurate diagnostics,
01:37so that they can differentiate between individuals who are worried and those who are truly in need of medical intervention.
01:43It helps us prioritize resources, and it helps to make sure that we're keeping American people safe.
01:49I will also bring in AI technologies to help in a couple of different ways.
01:57When I think about AI, the first thing I say is, what problems are we trying to solve?
02:01And when you can define accurately what the problems you are trying to solve, it allows you to have a disciplined way to incorporate these technologies
02:08that are really transforming what we think about in health innovation.
02:12I'll be using AI technologies to help support CDC to create a modernized and operationally efficient organization,
02:20where we look at how do we optimize our workforce, how do we make sure that our IT is supportive of internal operations
02:28and partnerships with state and locals, how do we make sure that we achieve fiscal responsibility
02:34through accurate tracking of all of our resource expenditures.
02:37I'll also be incorporating AI technologies as we continue to support public health outcomes.
02:43So the areas that AI think is going to be transformative in the health ecosystem
02:48is where we can work internally and with our partners to say...
02:53That's good. You know, I've got another question. I apologize. I hate cutting you off.
02:56I love talking technology.
02:59Well, I look forward to following up with you if I'm confirmed.
03:01Exactly.
03:01And in contrast to some of my colleagues across the aisle, I am very concerned about the cuts to Medicaid,
03:10certainly aware that there are always improvements, and you can find examples of fraud, waste, and abuse
03:15in pretty much any... I've been a mayor, I've been a governor.
03:19We're always dealing with that. It's a constant struggle.
03:22It's the same in any corporation, to be quite blunt.
03:26But I think that Medicaid is essential to community health centers.
03:30I helped start a community health center, discussed a little bit way back in 1972, 1973,
03:36that now has over 200 locations, is an essential part of providing access to health care,
03:43in this case all across the state of Connecticut.
03:46For them, Medicaid is essential to being able to provide that care and be compensated for it
03:53so they don't collapse financially.
03:55And I think it's amazing that, in Colorado, we're besieged by concern from rural health care providers,
04:04from community health centers, that if these cuts go forward, they will be in peril of going out of business.
04:11Do you see any solutions, or how can we address this potential issue?
04:16So, that is a very critical issue.
04:21I had had an opportunity in a previous role to really come to appreciate the value
04:27that these federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics play.
04:31And sometimes they're the only health that is accessible for some of our rural and vulnerable populations.
04:37And I do think fiscal viability of these has always been a challenge in making sure that,
04:43although they operate on a very thin margin, that they're able to continue to support
04:47and keep their doors open to help the population that they serve.
04:51As the CDC director, I don't know that I'll have a great deal of influence or ability
04:58to shape policy related to the health centers and to rural health clinics,
05:03but they are a very important part of our health ecosystem.
05:07Well, certainly disease control, you've got to be able to have access to health care,
05:11as you've pointed out.
05:12And I think you'll be surprised how much influence you're going to have.
05:15You know, just your range of experience and your approach to what you're doing
05:19is going to give you, your voice is going to carry further than most.