Dr. Anthony Fauci to step down as NIAID director, adviser to president
Fauci has been the voice of information on the current state of the pandemic and stopping its spread.
Dr. Anthony Fauci
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci announced Monday he is stepping down in December from his positions of director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, and as chief medical adviser to the president.
"I will be leaving these positions in December of this year to pursue the next chapter of my career," said Fauci, 81, by statement. He added, "While I am moving on from my current positions, I am not retiring. After more than 50 years of government service, I plan to pursue the next phase of my career while I still have so much energy and passion for my field. I want to use what I have learned as NIAID Director to continue to advance science and public health and to inspire and mentor the next generation of scientific leaders as they help prepare the world to face future infectious disease threats."
WHY THIS MATTERS
Fauci has more than 50 years of public service, most recently as a trusted medical adviser for the COVID-19 pandemic under President Biden.
He has been the voice of information – to both praise and criticism – on the current state of the pandemic and how to stop its spread.
"When I arrived at HHS, the world was one year into the COVID-19 pandemic," said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. "I quickly came to rely on Dr. Fauci's wisdom and counsel in our response, and along with his scientific acumen, I treasure his ability to break down complex science in simple terms to the American people to save lives."
Dr. Jack Resneck Jr., president of the American Medical Association, said, "For more than 50 years, Dr. Anthony Fauci has been a strong and steady voice for science- and data-driven responses to some of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Through the HIV/AIDS crisis, Ebola, Zika, and nearly three years of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Dr. Fauci has not only provided sage advice and counsel to presidents of both parties, but he smartly leveraged modern media to deliver clear and direct guidance and information to the American people."
THE LARGER TREND
For 38 years as NIAID Director, Fauci served under and advised seven presidents, beginning with President Ronald Reagan.
ON THE RECORD
"It has been the honor of a lifetime to have led the NIAID, an extraordinary institution, for so many years and through so many scientific and public health challenges," Fauci said.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org
