PERSON: Rachel Levine

U.S. Department of Health

Assistant Secretary

Rachel Leland Levine (/ləˈviːn/; 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.

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.

Levine has two children. She transitioned from male to female in 2011. Levine married Martha Peaslee Levine in 1988 during Levine’s last year of medical school and divorced in 2013. She has served as a board member of Equality Pennsylvania, an LGBT rights organization.

Levine was named as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year in 2022.

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