{"id":279051,"date":"2020-12-18T04:12:42","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T09:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=279051"},"modified":"2020-12-18T04:12:42","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T09:12:42","slug":"10-reasons-why-anthony-fauci-was-ready-to-be-the-face-of-the-us-pandemic-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/12\/18\/10-reasons-why-anthony-fauci-was-ready-to-be-the-face-of-the-us-pandemic-response\/","title":{"rendered":"10 reasons why Anthony Fauci was ready to be the face of the US pandemic response"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
FILE: Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony S. Fauci addresses his remarks and urges citizens to continue to follow the President\u2019s coronavirus guidelines during a coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing Wednesday, April 22, 2020, in the James S. Brady White House Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Photo by Shealah Craighead\/The White House from Washington, DC, Public Domain<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His call to \u201cWear a mask\u201d tops a list of 2020\u2019s notable quotes<\/a>. Brad Pitt portrayed him \u2013 and praised him \u2013 on \u201cSaturday Night Live<\/a>.\u201d Time magazine named him a 2020 guardian of the year<\/a>. Amazon features seven pages of T-shirts, mugs and more emblazoned with his face.<\/p>\n

Longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases<\/a> Anthony S. Fauci has been everywhere in 2020.<\/p>\n

Although perhaps only recently a household name, Fauci is no Tony-come-lately. Over the past four decades he\u2019s played prominent roles as a scientist, physician, administrator and spokesman. You know what he\u2019s been up to over the past several months. But what of his previous nearly 80 years? And what made him the figure he has become?<\/p>\n

From Brooklyn to Washington<\/h2>\n

Fauci, son of a pharmacist<\/a>, was born in Brooklyn<\/a> on Dec. 24, 1940. He attended Regis High, a tuition-free Jesuit boys\u2019 school. Passionate about basketball, he captained the high school team \u2013 despite his height of 5 feet 7 inches.<\/p>\n

He then attended the College of the Holy Cross, in Massachusetts, choosing a premedical major combining humanities and science. He graduated first in his class from Cornell University Medical College and went on to complete a medical residency.<\/p>\n

The Vietnam War was underway, and male med school graduates were required to serve their country. One option was the U.S. Public Health Service, which includes the National Institutes of Health, based outside Washington, D.C. Fauci entered a highly selective training program<\/a> there. He\u2019s worked at NIH essentially ever since.<\/p>\n

At NIH, Fauci initially conducted specialized research on the immune system and related rare diseases \u2013 for example, one now termed granulomatosis with polyangiitis<\/a>, in which blood vessels in the respiratory system and kidneys become inflamed. His work led to effective treatment of these previously largely fatal conditions.<\/p>\n

The age of AIDS<\/h2>\n

As the 1980s arrived, what came to be called AIDS emerged. Fauci soon redirected his research to focus on the new disease. He accepted the directorship of NIAID in 1984<\/a>, in part to increase its emphasis on AIDS.<\/p>\n

While continuing research and patient care, Fauci as institute director entered other realms. He testified repeatedly before Congress<\/a>. He gained visibility in the media. He was confronted by AIDS activists \u2013 and eventually included them in setting priorities for developing treatments<\/a>. Doing so set a precedent for involving patients<\/a> in decisions about research on their diseases.<\/p>\n

Fauci\u2019s leadership has expanded over the years. He was among the main architects of the President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR<\/a>, a major program begun under President George W. Bush in 2003<\/a>, to help control AIDS internationally<\/a>. He provided leadership regarding responses to bioterrorism<\/a> and to SARS<\/a>, Zika<\/a> and Ebola<\/a>. He is a member of the Trump administration\u2019s White House Coronavirus Task Force, and he has accepted President-elect Joe Biden\u2019s invitation to serve as chief medical adviser<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prolific in publication<\/h2>\n

Along the way, Fauci has authored or co-authored well over 1,000 journal articles<\/a>, including more than 500 about AIDS<\/a>. Of the articles, strikingly many appeared in top journals such as Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the New England Journal of Medicine. Fauci also is one of the editors of a major medical textbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Over the years Fauci published on topics that attest to his readiness for the coronavirus: past pandemics<\/a> as well as emerging infectious diseases<\/a> and how to confront them<\/a>, even how to conduct clinical trials in the midst of an outbreak<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A recent study ranks Fauci as the 32nd most highly cited<\/a> living researcher. His papers have been cited more than 50,000 times<\/a> by other publications, and his journal articles have been mentioned tens of thousands of times in social media.<\/p>\n

Sources of success<\/h2>\n

Clearly, Fauci is a remarkably successful scientist and a highly visible public figure. What factors seem to have contributed? Here are 10.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Smarts: Clearly Fauci is extraordinarily bright and knowledgeable. He has studied both science and humanities. The mix has fostered proficiency in lab and clinic, skill in communication and an ability to navigate the halls of power.<\/li>\n
  2. Integrity: \u201cI believe I have a personal responsibility to make a positive impact on society,\u201d he has stated<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ve tried to accomplish this goal by choosing a life of public service.\u201d Strong values have directed his choices, such as that to remain at NIAID despite offers<\/a> to become director of NIH or take more lucrative positions elsewhere.<\/li>\n
  3. Empathy: Fauci\u2019s values include concern for others\u2019 well-being. Upon being confronted by AIDS activists, he said, \u201cI saw people who were in pain<\/a>.\u201d He cared for, and about, people with AIDS even while the disease still was tremendously stigmatized.<\/li>\n
  4. Flexibility: Fauci can pivot. He redirected his work with the emergence of AIDS, contributing importantly to the understanding and treatment of the disease. Despite insults from AIDS activist Larry Kramer, he developed a productive alliance and warm friendship<\/a> with him.<\/li>\n
  5. Energy: Fauci has an exceptional work ethic and is blessed with amazing energy. Account<\/a> after account<\/a> details the staccato pace of his ultra-long days \u2013 rising before dawn, rushing from commitment to commitment with barely a break and answering email until late at night.<\/li>\n
  6. Trustworthiness: Fauci has earned credibility \u2013 through research and publication, impact on patient health and long service. In his communications, his values keep him focusing on the facts. An essay in the Washington Post<\/a> terms him \u201cthe singular referee the country trusts\u201d during the pandemic.<\/li>\n
  7. Connections: Adviser to six U.S. presidents and the current president-elect, Fauci has abundant ties in Washington among both politicians and the media. Some science reporters have covered his work since the 1980s.<\/li>\n
  8. Communication: Termed \u201cthe explainer-in-chief of the coronavirus epidemic<\/a>,\u201d Fauci is a master communicator. He knows how the media function. He explains clearly. He speaks in sound bites \u2013 think \u201cwe are likely going to see a surge upon a surge<\/a>\u201d of cases after the Thanksgiving holiday \u2013 and his comments are tweetable. He is accessible to the press. He listens as well as speaks.<\/li>\n
  9. Recognizability: Fauci has a distinctive look and voice. His name is unusual yet not unwieldy.<\/li>\n
  10. Teamwork: \u201cIt\u2019s almost impossible to do anything meaningful without either leading a team or being part of the team,\u201d Fauci has said<\/a>. A photo of Fauci\u2019s lab group<\/a> shows some 80 members, including senior researchers. Highly regarded for his mentorship<\/a>, Fauci even made himself available to an undergrad<\/a> writing a thesis \u2013 and then commented extensively on the finished product.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In many ways, Fauci has been the face of the fight against COVID-19 in the U.S. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to get through this, we\u2019ve got to all pull together as a country,\u201d Fauci has stated<\/a>. His blunt, evidence-based approach has helped make him famous in 2020. With any luck, he can lead the way to controlling COVID-19 in 2021.<\/p>\n

    [Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research.<\/em> Sign up for The Conversation\u2019s newsletter.<\/a>]\"The<\/p>\n

    Barbara Gastel<\/a>, Professor of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences and of Humanities in Medicine, Texas A&M University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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