New Advisor to FDA Chief Pushed Back on COVID Policies

— Tracy Beth Høeg, MD, PhD, has also questioned some childhood vaccines

by Jennifer Henderson, Enterprise & Investigative Writer, MedPage Today April 8, 2025

Tracy Beth Høeg, MD, PhD, who was named a special assistant to new FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, previously opposed some health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and has questioned the use of some childhood vaccines.

Recent research by Høeg, a sports medicine physician and epidemiologist, includes an examination of visitation restrictions for COVID patients, which showed that current data do not support a net benefit of such restrictions, and a study that found a lack of robust evidence of benefit for the use of face masks among children to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, as well as potential harms.

Other research includes a study on school mask mandates during the COVID pandemic, published in the Annals of Internal Medicinewhich showed that dropping such a mandate was associated with anywhere from an increase of 5.64 cases per 1,000 persons to a decrease of 2.74 cases per 1,000 persons, depending on choice of control group and whether students or staff were analyzed.

Høeg was also among a group of physicians and scientists who called for all schools and children’s activities to return to pre-pandemic norms in 2022.

At the time, the group’s recommendations — which drew criticism from other experts — included maintaining in-person learning regardless of COVID case counts; de-escalating fear around getting COVID; applying focused protection measures for individuals who remain at high risk; changing the focus to supporting kids’ mental, emotional, and social health; and making masks optional in schools.

In addition, a series of editorials written by Høeg and others published in the New York Times, Washington Postand The Hill focused on reopening schools and a return to normal life for kids.

Høeg, a Danish-American dual citizen, has also raised questions about some childhood vaccines, pointing to the difference between child immunization schedules in the U.S. and Denmark.

During the pandemic, Høeg served as a consultant epidemiologist for the Florida Department of Health under Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, who has continued to make statements against COVID vaccines and related recommendations.

Høeg’s new position was announced last week during Makary’s inaugural speech to staff at FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, Reuters reported, citing two agency sources with knowledge of the matter.

Høeg holds a medical license in California, where she is listed as a physician at Northern California Orthopaedic Associates. She also has conducted epidemiological research at institutions including the University of California San Francisco and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management.

Høeg completed her medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2006, and her doctor of philosophy degree in public health and epidemiology at the University of Copenhagen in 2014.

The FDA referred questions regarding Høeg’s reported appointment to HHS, which did not immediately respond to request for comment. Høeg also did not respond to request for comment by press time.