CDC deputy director Jennifer Shuford to leave agency Nov. 12

Jennifer Shuford, deputy director and chief medical officer at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced she will leave the agency on November 12, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. Shuford joined the CDC in April after serving as Texas health commissioner and was brought in to help restore trust in the agency amid public health challenges.

Her departure comes amid a nationwide surge in measles cases and ongoing leadership changes at the CDC under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to Atlanta News First. Shuford's last day at the agency will be November 12.

Capt. Satish Pillai will serve as acting chief medical officer and deputy director while the CDC searches for a permanent successor, FOX 5 Atlanta and Atlanta News First reported. Dr. Erica Schwartz, confirmed as CDC director in August, currently leads the agency.

Shuford cited a desire to spend more time with her family as a reason for stepping down, Atlanta News First reported. She had been praised for her handling of measles outbreaks in Texas prior to joining the CDC.