HHS’ Admiral Rachel Levine: Managing Her History-Making Role While Focused on the Nation’s Health

Originally broadcast July 18, 2024

With most of the country suffering through a sweltering heat wave, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has found the right time to unveil its nationwide Heat and Health Index (HHI).

“Conversations on Health Care” learned all about it from Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D., the department’s assistant secretary for health. “We are seeing heat-related injury and health impacts globally,” says Levine, particularly in vulnerable populations, such as children, seniors and people who work outside.

HHI combines historic temperature data and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data on heat-related emergency responses from the past three years, as well as data on community characteristics, including pre-existing health conditions, socio-demographic information, and characteristics of the natural and built environment, to provide a final heat and health index ranking by ZIP code.

Levine is used to being in the hot seat on a variety of issues, from worries about bird flu to the latest on Long COVID. During June, she helped lead efforts to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride, as the nation’s highest-ranking openly transgender official.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter, well aware that Levine serves at the president’s pleasure, asked her about future plans. She said she would absolutely be willing to go through another intense Senate confirmation process depending on what happens on Election Day. “I firmly believe in the Biden-Harris Administration and the principles they advocate for and represent.”