Anthony Fauci facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Fauci
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Fauci in 2023
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| 2nd Chief Medical Advisor to the President | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – December 31, 2022 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Ronny Jackson |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| 5th Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases | |
| In office November 2, 1984 – December 31, 2022 |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Richard M. Krause |
| Succeeded by | Jeanne Marrazzo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Anthony Stephen Fauci
December 24, 1940 New York City, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Christine Grady
(m. 1985) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Immunology |
| Institutions |
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| Notable students | Drew Weissman Deborah Birx |
| Uniformed service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps |
| Years of service | 1969–1996 |
| Rank |  Rear Admiral |
Anthony Stephen Fauci (/ˈfaʊtʃi/ FOW-chee; born December 24, 1940) is an American doctor and scientist. He is an immunologist, which means he studies the body's immune system. From 1984 to 2022, he was the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He also served as the chief medical advisor to the president from 2021 to 2022.
Fauci was one of the most often quoted scientists in scientific journals for many years. In 2008, President George W. Bush gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States. He earned it for his work on the PEPFAR program, which helps people with AIDS.
Fauci went to the College of the Holy Cross and then to Cornell University for medical school. He worked for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for over 50 years. He has advised every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan. As director of NIAID, he greatly helped with HIV/AIDS research and other diseases that affect the immune system.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci was a key member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force under President Donald Trump. He later became a lead member of the White House COVID-19 Response Team and President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor. Fauci retired at the end of 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Anthony Fauci was born on December 24, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York City. He was the younger of two children. His father was a pharmacist and owned a drug store. Young Anthony helped out at the pharmacy, working the cash register and delivering medicines. The pharmacy was right below his family's apartment.
As a child, Fauci loved learning about World War II. He also enjoyed playing basketball and baseball. His grandparents came to the United States from Italy in the late 1800s.
Fauci went to Regis High School, a tough school in Manhattan. He was the captain of the school's basketball team. Even though he was only 5 feet 7 inches tall, he was a strong player. Halfway through high school, he decided he wanted to become a doctor.
After high school, Fauci went to the College of the Holy Cross. He studied classical Greek and worked in construction during the summers. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. Then, he went to Cornell University's Medical College. He graduated first in his class in 1966 with a Doctor of Medicine degree. At Cornell, he focused on infectious diseases and the immune system. He then completed his medical training at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.
Career in Public Health
After finishing his training in 1968, Fauci joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He worked in the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation (LCI) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He became the head of a section in the LCI in 1974. In 1980, he became chief of NIAID's Laboratory of Immunoregulation. He was then appointed director of the NIAID in 1984. Fauci has been offered the top job at the NIH many times, but he always chose to stay at NIAID.
Fauci has been a leader in the U.S. fight against many viral diseases. These include HIV/AIDS, SARS, Swine flu, MERS, Ebola, and COVID-19. In the early 2000s, he helped create the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). He also helped develop medicines and vaccines to protect against biological attacks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Fauci has taught at many medical centers and received many special degrees from universities.
Medical Discoveries
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Fauci has made important scientific discoveries about how the human immune system works. He helped find ways to treat diseases that used to be deadly. These include diseases like polyarteritis nodosa and granulomatosis with polyangiitis. In 1985, his work on these treatments was called one of the most important advances in patient care.
Fauci also found a new way to use cancer drugs. This method changed a 98% death rate for a disorder called vasculitis into a 93% chance of getting better.
He has also helped us understand how HIV destroys the body's natural defenses, leading to AIDS. He has worked on ways to treat patients with HIV and to develop a vaccine to prevent the infection. His current research focuses on how HIV affects the immune system.
From 1983 to 2002, Fauci was one of the most quoted scientists in the world. He has been called a "spokesperson for science" who helped connect the worlds of science and politics.
HIV/AIDS Epidemic
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Fauci has said that his career was "defined by HIV." He was a key researcher during the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s. In 1981, he and his team started looking for a vaccine or treatment for this new virus.
At first, some people were angry with Fauci and the government's response to AIDS. However, Fauci worked to connect with the LGBTQ+ community to find solutions. He helped make experimental AIDS treatments more available to patients. Over time, his efforts were recognized. A leading AIDS activist, Larry Kramer, who had criticized Fauci, later called him "the only true and great hero" among government officials during the AIDS crisis.
Fauci was the main person behind the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This program has saved over 20 million lives in developing countries.
Ebola Outbreak
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In 2014, during the Ebola virus crisis, Fauci spoke to the U.S. Congress. He explained that scientists were still far from having enough cures or vaccines for widespread use. He stressed the importance of public health measures like screening and proper treatment to stop the spread of the virus.
COVID-19 Pandemic
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many people outside of the medical field did not know who Fauci was.
During the Trump Administration
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Fauci was a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. This group was set up in early 2020 under President Donald Trump to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci became a main public health spokesperson for the president. He strongly supported social distancing to slow the virus's spread.
In early 2020, Fauci said that COVID-19 was not a "major threat" to Americans at that moment. But he also said it was an "evolving situation" that public health officials needed to take seriously. He warned that it could become a "global pandemic." In March 2020, he predicted the death rate would be about 1%, which was much higher than the seasonal flu.
Fauci's advice on wearing face masks changed as scientists learned more about COVID-19. At first, he said healthy people did not need to wear masks. This was partly to save masks for healthcare workers. Later, as studies showed the virus could spread from people without symptoms, he advised the public to wear non-surgical masks. He explained that changes in advice were needed as new information became available.
In April 2020, Fauci said that if the government had started social distancing earlier, more lives could have been saved. He noted that it was a difficult decision at the time. Fauci faced some criticism for his advice. He also received threats, which meant he needed security protection.
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In June 2020, Fauci expressed concern that large protests could cause more COVID-19 cases. He advised people to "avoid crowds of any type." In July 2020, he said the U.S. was "still knee-deep in the first wave" of cases. He warned against feeling too comfortable about a lower death rate, saying the virus had many other dangers.
Fauci and President Trump sometimes disagreed publicly about the pandemic. Trump said Fauci had "made a lot of mistakes." The White House shared a list of Fauci's past statements, but it left out important context. Fauci stood by his recommendations, like mask-wearing and social distancing. He explained that these guidelines were based on science.
In October 2020, Fauci objected when his words were used in a Trump campaign advertisement. He said his words were taken out of context and he had never supported a political campaign.
During the Biden Administration
In December 2020, President-elect Joe Biden asked Fauci to stay on as director of NIAID. Biden also asked him to be the chief medical advisor to the president. Fauci accepted both roles.
After Biden became president in January 2021, Fauci said he felt "liberated" to speak freely about science. He felt Biden's administration was committed to being "completely transparent." Fauci helped develop the Biden administration's plan for giving COVID-19 vaccines across the country.
In May 2021, Fauci said he was "not convinced" that COVID-19 started naturally. He said scientists should keep investigating what happened in China. He also updated mask guidance for vaccinated Americans, saying they no longer needed to wear masks outdoors in most situations. This guidance was later updated again due to the more contagious Delta variant.
In June 2021, many of Fauci's emails from early 2020 were released to the public. These emails showed how the U.S. and Fauci first responded to COVID-19. In December 2021, Fauci supported the idea of creating a universal coronavirus vaccine.
In February 2022, Fauci said that decisions about COVID-19 would increasingly be made at a local level. He also said more people would make their own choices about how to deal with the virus. In April 2022, Fauci stated that the U.S. was "out of the full-blown explosive pandemic phase" of COVID-19.
On August 22, 2022, Fauci announced he would step down from his position in December. He officially retired on December 31, 2022. On January 19, 2025, President Biden pardoned Fauci for any federal actions he might have taken between January 1, 2014, and the pardon date.
Later Career
On June 26, 2023, Georgetown University announced that Fauci would join its teaching staff. He started teaching in the School of Medicine and McCourt School of Public Policy on July 1.
Cultural Impact
Because of his important role in fighting many pandemics, Fauci has become a well-known public figure. He has been featured in TV shows, books, and even internet memes. Actor Brad Pitt played Fauci on Saturday Night Live in 2020 and earned an award nomination for it. Fauci himself praised Pitt's performance.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, bakeries started selling pastries with Fauci's face on them. This was a way to honor his work. In September 2021, a documentary film about Fauci's life and career, called Fauci, was released.
Personal Life
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Anthony Fauci lives in Washington, D.C. He has lived in the same house since 1977. In 1985, he married Christine Grady. She is a nurse and a bioethicist (someone who studies ethics in medicine) at the NIH. They met while caring for a patient. Christine Grady is now the chief of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. They have three adult daughters.
Fauci has said he is "completely nonpolitical." He has worked well with presidents from different political parties. He has praised President George W. Bush's work on the PEPFAR program, which has saved millions of lives, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Memberships and Publications
On March 23, 2021, Fauci became an honorary member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine
Fauci has been a main editor for Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. This is a very important medical textbook. He has been named on the front cover of many editions, starting from the 11th edition in 1986 all the way to the most recent 21st edition in 2022. He was the lead editor for the 14th and 17th editions.
Awards and Honors
- 1979: Arthur S. Flemming Award
- 1993: Honorary Doctor of Science, Bates College
- 1995: Ernst Jung Prize
- 1995: Honorary Doctor of Science, Duke University
- 1996: Honorary Doctor of Science, Colgate University
- 1999: Honorary Doctor of Public Service, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
- 2002: Albany Medical Center Prize
- 2003: Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement
- 2005: National Medal of Science
- 2005: American Association of Immunologists Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2007: Mary Woodard Lasker Public Service Award
- 2007: George M. Kober Medal
- 2008: Presidential Medal of Freedom
- 2013: UCSF Medal, University of California, San Francisco
- 2013: Robert Koch Gold Medal
- 2013: Prince Mahidol Award
- 2015: Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Johns Hopkins University
- 2015: Honorary Doctor of Public Service, The George Washington University
- 2016: John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award
- 2018: Honorary Doctor of Science, American University
- 2018: Honorary Doctor of Science, Boston University
- 2019: Bertrand Russell Society Award
- 2020: Federal Employee of the Year
- 2020: Presidential Citation for Exemplary Leadership, National Academy of Medicine
- 2020: Ripple of Hope Award
- 2020: Time's Guardian of the Year
- 2020: Harris Dean's Award
- 2020: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- 2020: John Maddox Prize
- 2021: Blessed are the Peacemakers Award
- 2021: Humanist of the Year
- 2021: Public Welfare Medal
- 2021: Dan David Prize
- 2021: President's Medal, The George Washington University
- 2021: Honorary Doctor of Science, McGill University
- 2022: Honorary Doctor of Science, Sapienza University of Rome
- 2022: Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Michigan
- 2022: Hutch Award winner
- 2023:
Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class, Gold and Silver Star - 2023: Honorary Doctor of Science, Washington University in St. Louis
- 2023: Sheba Global Health Award
- 2023: Foreign Member of the Royal Society.
In 2022, the College of the Holy Cross renamed its science building the Anthony S. Fauci Integrated Science Complex in his honor.
Images for kids
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Fauci in 2023
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Fauci in 1984
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Fauci as NIAID Director in 2007
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President Barack Obama greets Fauci in June 2014.
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Fauci speaks about COVID-19 in April 2020.
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Fauci receives his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020.
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Fauci and President Joe Biden in February 2021.
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Fauci with his wife Christine Grady and President Joe Biden in 2023.
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Ben Carson and Anthony Fauci receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Anthony Fauci para niños
