Austin: An Austin doctor who was U.S. House candidate picked by Biden as DHS chief medical officer
An Austin physician, who was a Democratic congressional candidate last year, was selected by President JoeBiden to join his administration, according to a Thursday news release from the clinic he is leaving for his new role.
Dr. Pritesh Gandhi was appointed chief medical officer of the Department of Homeland Security, providing senior leadership on medical and public health issues, effective immediately, according to the release from People’s Community Clinic of Austin.
He will lead on issues related to natural disasters, border health, pandemic response, acts of terrorism and other human-caused disasters and serve as principal adviser to the Department of Homeland Security secretary, assistant secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, according to the release.
President Joe Biden Jan. 28 announced that University of Texas at Austinâs Dr. Pritesh Gandhi was named the chief medical officer of the Department of Homeland Security.
Gandhi is the associate medical director for the Peopleâs Community Clinic of Austin, an East Austin safety-net clinic that gives care to more than 16,000 Central Texans who are uninsured.
The Indian American is also an affiliate faculty member at the University of Texas Dell Medical School. At Dell Medical School, he specializes in population health and pediatrics, according to his bio.
He studied at Tufts University and completed his residency at Tulane University. He also studied at the London School of Economics and Johns Hopkins University, a news release said.