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Dr. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the Senate, signs her portrait on the Suter Science Center mural

ADM (ret.) Rachel Levine, a pediatrician who served as the U.S. assistant secretary for health from 2021-25, visited campus for a dedication ceremony of the Inclusivity in Science Mural at 91短视频鈥檚 Suter Science Center on Friday, March 27.

The mural, completed in summer 2022, features seven professionals in STEM-related fields whose identities as women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals have historically been underrepresented in the sciences. 

Dr. Levine, whose career as a pediatrician spans more than 40 years and whose portrait graces the mural, became the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2021. As part of her position, she served as a four-star admiral leading the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She was the first openly transgender four-star officer and the first woman to serve as a four-star admiral in the Commissioned Corps. She was named one of USA Today鈥檚 Women of the Year in 2022.

鈥淭he job was as interesting, challenging, busy, and rewarding as you might expect,鈥� Dr. Levine said in a conversation before the dedication ceremony. 鈥淚t was an amazing experience, very difficult and challenging, but worth it.鈥�

The public health expert sat down with 91短视频 News to talk about the mural, DEI, and the importance of vaccines.

It鈥檚 an honor to have you here with us. How did you hear about this event?

[Adrian Shanker, former deputy assistant secretary for health policy and now a consultant] came across the news story about P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd coming here, which mentioned that the mural featured my portrait. I thought that was great and asked Adrian to reach out, and then I was invited to today鈥檚 event to meet everyone, meet the artists, meet P谋nar, and say hello. I live near Hershey, Pennsylvania, so it鈥檚 not that far, and I thought I鈥檇 just jump in the car and come.

Have you had a chance to look at the mural?

I just saw it. It鈥檚 remarkable. The artists did an absolutely fantastic job.

How do you feel about the mission of the mural?

The terms diversity, equity, and inclusion aren鈥檛 accepted terms now. They鈥檙e even somewhat radioactive. But I still believe in that mission. I鈥檝e had many experiences in hospitals, government, and other organizations, and I believe that diversity improves any organization, whether it鈥檚 a school, the government, a hospital or medical center, or a business. I truly believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We can call them by different names, but I think they鈥檙e critically important. I thought it was wonderful that they were able to emphasize that here at the science center and in STEM fields from various perspectives. Being included in that was a real honor.

Anything else you would like to share?

As a pediatrician, I know from more than 40 years of clinical experience that vaccinations are one of the great victories of public health in the 20th and 21st centuries. I can鈥檛 tell you how many children and teenagers, who are now adults, have had their lives saved and prevented from illnesses because of immunizations that I administered or ordered. The questioning about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines is harming our nation and our children. We are now seeing vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles and others, that could have been prevented. In 2000, there were no cases of measles in the United States. Now look at what we鈥檙e seeing, because of the misinformation and overt disinformation about vaccines.

Dr. Rachel Levine introduces herself at Friday’s mural dedication ceremony in Suter Science Center 106. Seated to her right are 91短视频 Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and artist and scientist P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd.

Dr. Rachel Levine signs her portrait (left) on the Inclusivity in Science Mural. The pediatrician and public health expert talks with 91短视频 News (right) before the ceremony.