Rachel Levine
Rachel Leland Levine (/ləˈviːn/ lə-VEEN; born October 28, 1957) is an American pediatrician who has served as the United States assistant secretary for health since March 26, 2021. She is also an admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Rachel Levine | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| 17th Assistant Secretary for Health | |
| Assumed office March 26, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Secretary | Xavier Becerra |
| Preceded by | Brett Giroir |
| Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health | |
| In office July 2017 – January 23, 2021 | |
| Governor | Tom Wolf |
| Preceded by | Karen Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Alison Beam (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 28, 1957 Wakefield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Martha Peaslee
(m. 1988; div. 2013) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BS) Tulane University (MD) |
| Uniformed service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | Public Health Service Commissioned Corps |
| Years of service | 2021–present |
| Rank | Admiral |
Levine is a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine, and previously served as the Pennsylvania physician general from 2015 to 2017 and as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 2017 to 2021. Levine is one of only a few openly transgender government officials in the United States, and is the first to hold an office that requires Senate confirmation. On October 19, 2021, Levine became the first openly transgender four-star officer in the nation's eight uniformed services.
Levine was named as one of USA Today's women of the year in 2022, which recognizes women who have made a significant impact on society.