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The White House’s chief epidemiologist, Anthony Fauci, announced Monday that he will step down as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in December. He assured that his decision came about because he has other career plans.
“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. 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”, Fauci wrote in a statement posted on the institute’s official website.
Fauci recalled the beginning of his career and how he worked with different U.S. presidents and although he mentioned for example Ronald Reagan, he made special mention of Joe Biden. “I am particularly proud to have served as the Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden since the very first day of his administration”, he added.
Anthony Fauci is not retiring
He maintained that he will keep working and will not retire. “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.”
And added: “Thanks to the power of science and investments in research and innovation, the world has been able to fight deadly diseases and help save lives around the globe. I am proud to have been part of this important work and look forward to helping to continue to do so in the future.”
Williams Perdomo es periodista y escritor, especializado en las fuentes Política y Cultura.