President-Elect Trump Appoints Brevard’s Dr. Dave Weldon Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dr. Weldon was elected to Congress for Florida's District 15 where he served for 14 years

Dr. David Weldon is a Board Certified Internist who sees patients at the Health First Medical Group offices on Malabar Road.

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Health First’s Dr. Dave Weldon as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director.

“In addition to being a medical doctor for 40 years and an Army Veteran, Dave has been a respected conservative leader on fiscal and social issues and served on the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, working for Accountability on HHS and CDC Policy and Budgeting,” President Trump said in his announcement.

“Dave also served in a leading role in Government Oversight and Reform Committee Hearings, addressing issues within HHS and CDC. Dave has successfully worked with the CDC to enact a ban on patents for human embryos,” Trump said.

Trump said that Dr. Weldon, 71, will play a key part in “Making America Healthy Again,” saying that he will work on correcting “past errors.”

“Americans have lost trust in the CDC and in our Federal Health Authorities, who have engaged in censorship, data manipulation, and misinformation,” Trump said.

“Given the current Chronic Health Crisis in our Country, the CDC must step up and correct past errors to focus on the Prevention of Disease. The current Health of Americans is critical, and CDC will play a big role in helping to ensure Americans have the tools and resources they need to understand the underlying causes of diseases and the solutions to cure these diseases,” Trump added.

President Trump said that Dr. Weldon “understands American Family Values.”

“As a father of two and a husband of 45 years, Dave understands American Family Values and views Health as one of utmost importance,” he said. “Dave will prioritize Transparency, Competence, and High Standards at CDC. Dave will proudly restore the CDC to its true purpose and will work to end the Chronic Disease Epidemic and Make America Healthy Again!”

Health First Medical Group Board Certified Internist

Dr. Weldon is a Board Certified Internist who sees patients at the Health First Medical Group offices at 730 Malabar Road. Dr. Weldon’s interests include managing hypertension, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, cancer screening, preventive care, and general illnesses of the elderly.

“Health First proudly recognizes Dr. Dave Weldon, a physician with Health First Medical Group and esteemed member of the Brevard County community, for his recent nomination by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Health First spokesman Lance Skelly.

“Dr. Weldon’s extensive career in medicine, public service, and health policy demonstrates his dedication to advancing healthcare and public health initiatives. His contributions as a physician and policymaker have positively impacted countless individuals and families, both locally and nationally. As the nomination process moves forward, Health First extends its support and best wishes to Dr. Weldon in his efforts to further protect and promote the health and well-being of all Americans.”

WATCH: After his long stint in Washington, DC, Dr. Dave Weldon returned to Brevard, where he currently practices internal medicine with Health First. He also serves as a clinical professor of biomedical engineering at Florida Tech’s College of Engineering.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from SUNY Stony Brook, he earned his MD at SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine in 1981. Upon completing a three-year accelerated medical degree, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society.

Dr. Weldon attended medical school on an Army Health Professions Scholarship and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. He served six years on active duty and eight years in the Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Major and first came to Brevard in 1987.

He was recognized by NCQA (the National Committee for Quality Assurance) in 2011 and 2013 for delivering quality diabetes care. That same year, NCQA’s Heart/Stroke Recognition Program recognized him for providing excellent care to people with cardiovascular disease or stroke.

Dr. Weldon Goes to Washington

In 1994, Dr. Weldon ran successfully for Congress, becoming part of the first Republican majority in the U.S. House in 40 years.

He served seven terms in Congress on committees and caucuses, including the Science Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, Banking and Financial Services, Government Reform and Oversight, and the Appropriations Committee. He was also a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee and served on the Speaker’s Task Force on Healthcare Reform in his freshman term.

Florida’s District 15, during Dr. Weldon’s service in Congress, encompassed Kennedy Space Center and was home to the nation’s Space Shuttle, Patrick Air Force Base, and Cape Canaveral Air Station. He was one of the founding members of the Aerospace Caucus, which worked closely with the Aerospace Industries Association to promote job growth and support our nation’s aerospace industrial base.

As a physician, Dr. Weldon became involved with many health care policy issues, including efforts to ban human cloning and vaccine safety. He helped lead the effort to remove toxic mercury-containing preservatives from childhood vaccines.

For his health care work in Congress, Dr. Weldon was awarded the status of Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 2005. He also worked closely with former U.S. Health Secretary Tommy Thompson on President George Bush’s Africa AIDS initiative.

In 2006, Dr. Weldon founded the Israel Allies Caucus in the U.S. House, which was formed to strengthen ties with Israel and help establish a safe and secure future for the people of Israel. In 2007, he partnered with Israeli Knesset member Benny Elon to create the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation, or IIACF. The IIACF maintains an office in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Weldon remains active on its board.

Dr. Weldon was a member of “The Second Amendments,” a bipartisan rock and country band that performed at Farm Aid, We-Fest, and other events. He and fellow band members Representatives Thaddeus McCotter, Colin Peterson, Kenny Hulshof, and John Porter entertained troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005.

He currently serves on several charity boards that support the nation’s space program. He has been married to his wife, Nancy, for over 30 years and has two children, Katie and David.

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