Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Key takeaways: The CDC has not had a permanent director for 13 of the last 14 months. The vacancy leaves the U.S. open to public health threats, experts said. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, was selected in February to also serve as acting director of the CDC, continuing the unprecedented turnover atop what is widely considered to be the world’s premier public health agency.