Dr. Rachel Levine Biography and Wiki
Dr. Rachel Levine is a well-known American pediatrician who took on the role of assistant secretary for health in the United States and led the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps from 2021 to 2025.
She’s also a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine. Before stepping into her federal role, Levine made significant contributions to public health in Pennsylvania, serving as the state’s physician general from 2015 to 2017 and then as the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 2017 to 2021.
Levine stands out as one of the few openly transgender officials in the U.S. government and was the first to hold a position that required Senate confirmation. On October 19, 2021, she made history by becoming the first openly transgender four-star officer among the nation’s eight uniformed services.
In recognition of her remarkable contributions to public health and service, Levine was honored as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year in 2022, celebrating women who have made a real difference in society.
Dr. Rachel Levine Education
Is Rachel Levine qualified? Dr. Levine studied at Belmont Hill School, an independent school for boys. After her high school education, she joined Havard College where she earned her undergraduate degree. She then attended and graduated from Tulane U, School of Medicine in 1983, where she majored in pediatric medicine. She went on to finish her training at Mt. Sinai in New York City.
Dr. Rachel Levine Assistant Secretary for Health | Admiral
The former US President Joe Biden nominated Levine to be Assistant Secretary for Health. on March 24, 2021, the Senate confirmed her nomination. She is the first openly transgender federal officer to hold the office. ALSO READ: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat
On October 19, 2021, Levine was commissioned as a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, becoming the first openly transgender four-star officer in any of the United States uniformed services. She is also the first female four-star admiral in the commissioned corps.
Dr. Rachel Age and Birthday
How old is Dr. Rachel? Levine is 68 years old as of 2026. She was born October 28, 1957, in Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States of America. She celebrates her birthday on 28th October.
Dr. Rachel Levine Real Name | Original Name
Levine was born Richard Leland Levine before she changed into a woman.
Dr. Rachel Levine Before
Dr. Rachel was born Richard. In 2012, Dr. Levine changed and identified himself as a woman after being born Richard Leland Levine. According to the Washington Post interview with Dr. Levine, she stated that her transition from Richard to Rachel was slow, deliberate, and filled with research. She started seeing a therapist in 2001 and in 2008 she started growing out her hair, which is now long and curly, and publicly announced herself as a transgender woman in 2011. She took one and a half a year to attend voice lessons to sound more like a woman. Levine does not discuss whether she took hormones or had surgery, calling it a private medical matter.
Dr. Rachel Levine Height
How tall is Dr. Rachel? Levine stands at an approximated height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m)
Dr. Rachel Levine Family | Parents | Siblings
Dr. Levine is the daughter of (mother) Lillian Levine, a former lawyer and (father) Melvin Levine. She has a younger sister by the name of Bonnie Levine. She also has uncles who practiced law.
Dr. Rachel Levine’s Wife and Children
Dr. Rachel before transition, married his wife by the name of Martha Peaslee Levine. Levine married during her fourth year and was the chief resident at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, where she also taught. She and her wife divorced in 2013. The couple are proud parents of two children, David and Dayna.
Dr. Rachel Levine General
Dr. Rachel was appointed in 2015 as the Pennsylvania Physician General, the state’s top doctor. Levine is the highest-ranking transgender official in Pennsylvania and one of only a handful who served in an elected or appointed offices nationwide.
Dr. Rachel Levine Pennsylvania Health Secretary | Coronavirus Updates
Dr. Rachel as a Health Secretary of Pennsylvania oversaw the 1,300-employee Pennsylvania Department of Health and its battle against the coronavirus in Pennsylvania. In that role, she reported directly to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
Dr. Rachel Levine Career
Dr. Levine started his vocation at Columbia as a resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology and joined the faculty as an Associate Professor subsequent to finishing a partnership and service in the military as Chief of Service, Obstetrics and Gynecology at U.S. Patterson Army Hospital in Fort Monmouth, NJ.
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Since joining the faculty, Dr. Levine has had a full clinical practice while likewise taking on many key managerial jobs, including Vice President and President of the Columbia-Presbyterian Physician Network Medical Board and President and CEO of the Columbia Faculty Practice Organization. All through his profession, Dr. Levine has given extraordinary consideration to his patients, yet he has attempted to improve access and upgrade the nature of care for the ladies of New York and the past.
Since 2012 when he became the Vice-Chair of Development, Dr. Levine has raised six invested residencies, which will benefit the Department of Ob/GYN and the ladies and families they serve. We are so appreciative of Dr. Levine’s initiative and mentorship and all that he has accomplished for the ladies’ service at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
In 2014, she was a top specialist at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and served on the leading body of Equality Pennsylvania, a statewide gay rights gathering, when Gov.- choose Tom Wolf (D) asked her to co-chair his progress group for wellbeing matters.
Dr. Rachel Levine Net Worth
Dr. Levine as an accomplished American physician has an estimated net worth of $1 – $5 million
Dr. Rachel Levine Facts
- Full Name: Rachel Levine
- Age: 67 years as of 2026
- Wife: Ellen Levine
- Children: 2
- Father: Melvin Levine
- Mother’s Name: Lillian Levine
- Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m)
- Nationality: American
- Education: Belmont Hill School, Harvard College, Tulane University School of Medicine
