Anthony Fauci is something of a celebrity in the world of infectious disease. His colleagues and students have long praised his work ethic, enthusiasm and expertise. But what else do we know about him? Here are the top 10 secrets about the man behind some of today’s most important public health decisions:
1. He earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1966. Before that, he studied chemistry and mathematics at The College of the Holy Cross, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1962.
2. He spent over four decades working for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Prior to being appointed as director in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, Fauci was chief of NIAID’s Laboratory of Immunoregulation.
3. He is a highly respected figure in the medical community, having been awarded multiple prestigious awards. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama and in 2020 he became a member of the National Academy of Medicine—the highest honor bestowed upon individuals for their contributions to health and medicine.
4. He has consulted with every president since Reagan on AIDS policy and is known for his ability to navigate the political landscape while still advocating for evidence-based science.
5. Despite his impressive credentials, Fauci was initially reluctant to speak publicly about HIV/AIDS and its associated stigma when it first began making headlines in the 1980s. His reluctance would soon dissipate once he realized how important it was to educate the public on the disease.
6. Fauci is also a renowned researcher, with over 400 publications in scientific journals on topics ranging from HIV/AIDS to autoimmunity and inflammation.
7. He has dedicated much of his life to teaching, having been an instructor at Georgetown University Medical Center since 1983 and director of the NIAID’s Fellowship Program for Infectious Diseases since 1993.
8. Outside of the lab and lecture hall, he’s a passionate fan of baseball—especially his beloved Washington Nationals—and enjoys playing tennis in his free time.
9. Though Fauci has worked under seven presidents, he has been most closely associated with the Trump administration, becoming a public face of the coronavirus pandemic.
10. He is often referred to as “America’s Doctor” for his tireless efforts to protect the health and safety of Americans for decades. His commitment to science and evidence-based solutions have made him a trusted advisor in times of crisis. As he approaches his 85th birthday this December, it’s clear that Fauci will continue to be an important figure in public health for years to come.
This concludes our list of top 10 secrets about Anthony Fauci! Hopefully you now have a better understanding of who he is and just how much he’s done for American health and safety. We can all be thankful for his inspiring dedication to science. Thank you, Dr. Fauci!