She is a former rear admiral and assistant surgeon general in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

She also served as the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Hospital before beginning her public health career at CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer in NCID.

"[13] A May 1, 2020 CDC report authored by Schuchat noted that based on this containment belief federal and local jurisdictions did not recommend restrictions on gatherings, and that several large events consequently held at the end of February played a notable role in the spread of COVID-19 in the United States.

[14] In a valedictory retirement message, Schuchat wrote that “public health successes usually take place out of the spotlight and under the radar, which for most of us in this field is just fine; victory often means preventing something bad from happening” and, acknowledging that “the Covid-19 pandemic [was] as large a disrupter as a world war,” expressed "hope this is also a moment when a new generation is called to action, to experience the difficulty and meaning and joy of public service.