The Senate confirmed Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Monarez was confirmed by a vote of 51-47 along party lines on Tuesday evening. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) were absent.

Susan Monarez is the first director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to require Senate confirmation. She's also the first director without a medical degree in more than 70 years.

Monarez, a microbiologist and infectious disease expert who has served across several federal health agencies over the years, was the CDC’s deputy director from January to March.