Fauci to Retire by End of Biden's First Term

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Anthony Fauci, MD, is planning to retire by the end of President Joe Biden's current term in office, the infectious disease expert says.

Fauci, Biden's chief medical officer, who has also been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, told Politico he is not planning to wait for COVID-19 to disappear before retiring.

"We're in a pattern now. If somebody says, 'You'll leave when we don't have COVID anymore,' then I will be 105. I think we're going to be living with this," the 81-year-old told Politico.

Fauci told CNN that he does not have a specific date in mind for his retirement to begin and has not begun the process of retiring.

In recent years, he has largely been known for his role in the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting the idea of "flattening the curve," namely through social distancing and masking.

But the scientist has advised on many public health issues over the years, helping to lead the federal public health response to the HIV and AIDS crisis in the 1980s and advising on infectious diseases like Ebola and Zika. Beginning with former President Ronald Reagan, Fauci has served under seven presidents.

SOURCES:

Politico: "Anthony Fauci wants to put Covid's politicization behind him."

CNN: "Fauci says he plans to retire by the end of Biden's current term."

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: "Anthony S. Fauci, M.D."

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Cite this: Fauci to Retire by End of Biden's First Term - Medscape - Jul 18, 2022.