Dr. Mandy Cohen reflects on changing politics of health care, five years after COVID-19 hit NC

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Dr. Mandy Cohen reflects on changing politics of health care, five years after COVID-19 hit NC

By Leoneda Inge,

Cole del Charco

Published March 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM EDT

File photo. Dr. Mandy Cohen, former NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary speaks at a briefing.

Dr. Mandy Cohen became a household name in North Carolina after the coronavirus pandemic spread to the state.

Dr. Mandy Cohen in 瓜神app's studios in March 2025.

She led the state's Department of Health and Human Services under Governor Roy Cooper and went on to become the CDC Director under President Biden.鈥�

Dr. Cohen joins Due South's Leoneda Inge to reflect on the 5 years since the pandemic and the increased politicization of public health then and now.

Guest

Dr. Mandy Cohen, former NCDHHS Health Secretary, and CDC Director

Due South

Leoneda Inge

Leoneda Inge is the co-host of 瓜神app's "Due South." Leoneda has been a radio journalist for more than 30 years, spending most of her career at 瓜神app as the Race and Southern Culture reporter. Leoneda鈥檚 work includes stories of race, slavery, memory and monuments. She has won "Gracie" awards, an Alfred I. duPont Award and several awards from the Radio, Television, Digital 瓜神app Association (RTDNA). In 2017, Leoneda was named "Journalist of Distinction" by the National Association of Black Journalists.

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Cole del Charco

Cole del Charco is an audio producer and writer based in Durham. He's made stories for public radio's All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Marketplace. Before joining Due South, he spent time as a freelance journalist, an education and daily news reporter for 瓜神app, and a podcast producer for WFAE in Charlotte.

See stories by Cole del Charco