Joe Biden picks transgender woman Rachel Levine to be assistant health secretary in historic first

The incoming president says his 'deeply qualified' pick for assistant health secretary will make history as the first transgender person in such a role.

Dr. Rachel Levine, who United States President-elect Joe Biden announced on January 19, 2021 as is his nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health. Source: ABACA

President-elect Joe Biden announced Tuesday his nomination for assistant health secretary, who would become the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the US Senate.

Mr Biden tapped Rachel Levine to serve as assistant secretary for health at the US Department of Health and Human Services, his transition office said in a statement.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, meets with the media May 29, 2020. Source: The Patriot-News

Cabinet-level and senior positions like this require confirmation by the Senate, which will be in the Democrats' hands after Mr Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris are sworn in Wednesday.

"Ms Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic," Mr Biden said in a statement from his transition team.

"She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration's health efforts."

Mr Biden inherits multiple crises upon taking office, the greatest being the coronavirus that has now killed almost 400,000 people in the US. 

He has said he wants to see 100 million people in America vaccinated during his first 100 days as president and will seek billions of dollars from Congress to fund mass vaccination centres.

President-elect Joe Biden stands with his wife Jill Biden Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 Source: AP

Ms Levine is currently secretary of health for the state of Pennsylvania and a professor of paediatrics and psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine.

Mr Biden has nominated California politician Xavier Becerra as health secretary.