California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Monday he is hiring two former top officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who were pushed out by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or resigned in protest of his policies.
Susan Monarez, former CDC director, and Deb Houry, former CDC chief medical officer, will be working with the California Department of Public Health to help lead the launch of the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX).
Houry was one of several top CDC officials who resigned earlier this year in protest of what she described as Kennedy’s weaponization of public health. Monarez, a veteran of the federal public health workforce, was fired by Kennedy less than a month after being confirmed as CDC director over what she claims was her refusal to rubber-stamp changes to vaccine policy.
Kennedy has denied these accusations, telling lawmakers that Monarez could not be trusted.
According to a release from Newsom’s office, PHNIX is a new California-led initiative that will “modernize public health infrastructure and maintain trust in science-driven decision-making.”
“The Public Health Network Innovation Exchange is expected to bring together the best science, the best tools, and the best minds to advance public health,” Newsom said. “By bringing on expert scientific leaders to partner in this launch, we’re strengthening collaboration and laying the groundwork for a modern public health infrastructure that will offer trust and stability in scientific data not just across California, but nationally and globally.”
Katelyn Jetelina, CEO of Your Local Epidemiologist, will also be joining the initiative. Jetelina said the current “chaotic health information environment” necessitated an initiative like PHNIX.
“I am deeply excited to bring my experience in health technology and innovation to support PHNIX,” Monarez said in a statement. “California has an extraordinary concentration of talent, technology, and investment, and this effort is about putting those strengths to work for the public good—modernizing how public health operates, accelerating innovation, and building a healthier, more resilient future for all Californians.”
“California will advance practical, scalable solutions that strengthen public health within the state and across states—showing how states can modernize data, share capacity, and work together more efficiently, while remaining focused on protecting people and communities,” Houry said.
Newsom’s office said PHNIX will focus on public health preparedness by developing advanced technology and funding future frameworks. These will include improved systems for detecting trends and protecting privacy; focusing on artificial intelligence; and proposing designs for multi-state and global health partnerships with private and academic sectors.
Since Kennedy’s confirmation, California has been part of other state-level health initiatives, independent from the federal government. These include the West Coast Health Alliance with Oregon and Washington, which aims to develop public health guidance rooted in “scientific expertise.”