President Barack Obama announced May 15 that New York City Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden will be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The New York Times reports.

In his seven years working for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Frieden—an infectious disease specialist—led the city’s ban against smoking in restaurants and bars, pushed to make HIV tests a routine part of medical exams (a recommendation the city—and state—have not yet taken) and championed a program that passes out more than 35 million free condoms throughout the city each year.

“I think the administration selected Tom Frieden because he can take public health to a new place,” said Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America’s Health, a public health advocacy organization. “He’s a transformational leader.”

According to the article, Frieden is expected to take office next month.