NEW YORK, NY May 18, 2009 —Mayor Bloomberg has announced the successor to Health Commissioner Doctor Thomas Frieden, who leaves New York next month to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WNYC’s Fred Mogul has more.

REPORTER: Incoming health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley is a pediatrician, epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist from Tulane University in New Orleans. The 53-year-old Farley says he shares with his predecessor:

FARLEY: A focus on what are the leading causes of death in New Yorkers today, a focus on data and scientific evidence behind our decision-making, and evaluating the programs that work.

REPORTER: Farley says his first order of business will be working on containing the ongoing outbreak of H1N1 flu and getting to know the city health department, where he was a special visiting advisor two years ago. He takes over the helm on June 8. For WNYC, I’m Fred Mogul.