( CNN ) -- Dr. Julie Gerberding , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , will leave her post by noon on January 20 , the day President-elect Barack Obama is to be sworn in to office . Dr. Julie Gerberding , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , has resigned effective January 20 . In an e-mail to the staff at the Department of Health and Human Services , which includes the CDC , outgoing HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt asked Gerberding and several other senior officials from his team to submit their letters of resignation . `` She did so , and it was accepted , and it is effective January 20 , '' CDC spokeswoman Karen Hunter said . Leavitt explained his move this way : `` The next phase of Transition involves the departure of our team on January 20 , and the arrival of President-elect Obama 's team later that day , '' his e-mail said . `` In order to create a clear path for leadership transition , I am attaching a list of senior leaders who will become the acting heads of their respective agencies and offices ( or in some cases , remain as heads of their respective agencies and offices ) until the new administration appoints individuals to various leadership positions . '' In addition to the change at CDC , Assistant HHS Secretary Charlie Johnson will serve as acting secretary , Leavitt said . CDC 's Chief Operating Officer William H. Gimson III will take over as interim director at the agency until the next HHS secretary appoints a new one , the e-mail added . Gimson and Gerberding were traveling and unavailable for comment .
Dr. William H. Gimson III will leave her post by noon on the day . Outgoing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Secretary Julie Gerberding asked her for resignation . Chief Operating Officer William H. Gimson III will take over as interim director .