Fauci Stepping Down as Nation’s Chief Medical Advisor

WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci, who in many ways was the face of the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, announced Monday he will be stepping down from his roles as chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases as of December.

He will also be stepping down, at the same time, from his position as chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation.

In a lengthy statement, the 81-year-old Fauci said he was doing so “to pursue the next chapter of my career.”

The Brooklyn, New York, native said it has been “the honor of a lifetime” to have led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “for so many years and through so many scientific and public health challenges.”

“I am very proud of our many accomplishments. I have worked with — and learned from — countless talented and dedicated people in my own laboratory, at NIAID, at NIH and beyond. To them I express my abiding respect and gratitude,” he said.

Fauci also reflected on the fact that over the past 38 years as NIAID director, he has served under and advised seven presidents of the United States, beginning with President Ronald Reagan.

During that time, his work focused on several newly emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats including HIV/AIDS, West Nile virus, the anthrax attacks, pandemic influenza, various bird influenza threats, Ebola and Zika, among others, and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am particularly proud to have served as the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden since the very first day of his administration,” Fauci said.

He also went on to say that “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,” Fauci said.

“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.

“Over the coming months, I will continue to put my full effort, passion and commitment into my current responsibilities, as well as help prepare the institute for a leadership transition. NIH is served by some of the most talented scientists in the world, and I have no doubt that I am leaving this work in very capable hands,” he added.

Dr. Lawrence Tabak, acting director of the National Institutes of Health, called Fauci’s announcement, “the end of an era.”

“He is the model public servant — dedicated and selfless, and a brilliant scientist and physician who is passionate about developing treatments and cures for those who are sick and suffering,” Tabak said. “He has dedicated his life’s work to advancing knowledge about the causes of complex diseases ranging from HIV to asthma, rarely satisfied with anything less than a cure. For Tony, it’s personal.

“He works tirelessly on behalf of all patients, often at great personal expense, and always bringing his Brooklyn tenacity to the fight. I know of no one more dedicated than Tony to the mission of the NIH and the health of the American people,” Tabak continued, adding, “I will miss him greatly. But I also look forward to seeing what Tony will do next. I have no doubt that he will continue to have an enormous impact on the world.”

In a statement released by the White House, Biden recalled first working with Fauci on the United States’ response to Zika and Ebola.

“I came to know him as a dedicated public servant, and a steady hand with wisdom and insight honed over decades at the forefront of some of our most dangerous and challenging public health crises,” Biden said.

“When it came time to build a team to lead our COVID-19 response — in fact, in one of my first calls as president-elect — I immediately asked Dr. Fauci to extend his service as my chief medical advisor to deal with the COVID-19 crisis our nation faced. In that role, I’ve been able to call him at any hour of the day for his advice as we’ve tackled this once-in-a-generation pandemic. His commitment to the work is unwavering, and he does it with an unparalleled spirit, energy and scientific integrity.

“Dr. Fauci has served under seven Republican and Democratic presidents during his career. … He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 under President George W. Bush,” the president said. “Because of Dr. Fauci’s many contributions to public health, lives here in the United States and around the world have been saved.

“As he leaves his position in the U.S. government, I know the American people and the entire world will continue to benefit from Dr. Fauci’s expertise in whatever he does next. Whether you’ve met him personally or not, he has touched all Americans’ lives with his work. I extend my deepest thanks for his public service. The United States of America is stronger, more resilient, and healthier because of him,” Biden said.

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