Birx, Fauci: America's chief health science communicators
Skip to main content
MDHC_Logotype_white
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • This Week's News
    • COVID-19
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition
    • Michigan to begin vaccinating homeless people for COVID-19
      Workers worry about safety, stress as states ease mask rules
      Highlights of the $1.9T COVID bill nearing final passage
      By the Numbers: Insurers owing largest MLR rebates
    • Michigan to begin vaccinating homeless people for COVID-19
      Workers worry about safety, stress as states ease mask rules
      Highlights of the $1.9T COVID bill nearing final passage
      Artist Gus Moran begins his chalk art piece Feb. 28 at the Disneyland Resort Vaccine Super Site POD.
      City of Hope commissions street art to spread positive messages
    • Shareholder group calls out HCA for alleged excessive emergency department admissions
      Metrologo 600x400_i.jpg
      MetroHealth forms Center for Cancer Research
      The Check Up: Dr. Marc Boom
      The Check Up: Dr. Marc Boom of Houston Methodist
      Dr. Marc Boom
      Q&A: Houston Methodist CEO praises staff efforts to keep vaccine efforts going during ice storm
    • A younger woman provider helping an older woman on a tablet.
      Insurers set sights on growth in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care
      By the Numbers: Insurers owing largest MLR rebates
      5 things to know about Alignment Healthcare's proposed IPO
      Solid sign-ups for Biden's new Obamacare coverage offer
    • MedPAC likely to recommend an effective cut in Medicare Advantage spending
      MedPAC likely to recommend CMS simplify alternative payment models
      Florida governor faces growing charges of vaccine favoritism
      States rapidly expanding vaccine access as supplies surge
    • 369178053.jpg
      Shares of insurer Oscar Health fall following $1.4B IPO
      Sutter Health posts sizable 2020 loss, announces sweeping review of finances
      UPMC's patient volumes stabilize, boosting 2020 profits
      Genomics firms taking advantage of SPACs trend to go public faster
    • Abbott gets emergency use authorization for test that detects COVID-19, other infections
      Insurance regulator to issue warning on virus-test billing
      351532635.jpg
      Red-hot virtual care market propels New York City health startups to record year
      Teladoc reports $383.3M in fourth-quarter revenue, up 145%
    • Workers worry about safety, stress as states ease mask rules
      Doctors performing surgery
      Doctor appears in court video call while performing surgery
      Artist Gus Moran begins his chalk art piece Feb. 28 at the Disneyland Resort Vaccine Super Site POD.
      City of Hope commissions street art to spread positive messages
      54.2% of teens were fully vaccinated against HPV in 2019, compared with 51.1% in 2018. 79 million: Estimated number of Americans currently infected with HPV.
      Data Points: Another vaccination race for HPV
    • Francoise_Adan1_i.jpg
      Cleveland's UH creates position of chief whole health and well-being officer
      Alicia Wilson
      Q&A: Emerging leader Alicia Wilson on staying close to home
      Michael Jordan, Novant team up to address health equity
      Former Ascension CEO, the first to lead the health system, passes away
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Insights
    • ACA 10 Years After
    • Best Practices
    • Special Reports
    • Innovations
    • The Affordable Care Act after 10 years
    • Dr. John Fischer
      Patient-reported outcomes tool for hernia surgery helps physicians improve care
      New care model helps primary-care practices treat obesity
      doctor with patient
      COVID-19 treatment protocol developed in the field helps patients recover
      Rachel Wyatt
      Project to curb pressure injuries in hospitals shows promise
    • What's next for on-demand telehealth companies?
      A CalOptima PACE vaccination clinic.
      Will COVID-19 be the catalyst for creating a more sustainable healthcare system?
      A map of the U.S. with images of the coronavirus.
      The digital divide becomes a new social determinant of health
      Ascension’s St. Mary’s Hospital Surgery Center at Towne Centre and Allegheny Health Network’s Bethel Park surgery center
      Hospitals see opportunity, risk in ambulatory surgery centers
    • Ryan McGinnis
      Finding efficiencies in the OR using tech
      Dr. Daniel Hall
      UPMC pilots machine learning, telehealth to inform patient transfers
      A woman being recorded using her inhaler on a smartphone.
      Digital check-ins, connected inhalers help control asthma
      A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
  • Transformation
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • What's next for on-demand telehealth companies?
      Rising prescription copays drop adherence, spike mortality, research shows
      Dr. John Fischer
      Patient-reported outcomes tool for hernia surgery helps physicians improve care
      Highmark Health inks six-year cloud, tech deal with Google
    • Ryan McGinnis
      Finding efficiencies in the OR using tech
      Hospitals' Medicare billing practices suggest upcoding, OIG says
      California hospitals prepare ethical protocol to prioritize lifesaving care
      Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway disband Haven
    • Dr. Daniel Hall
      UPMC pilots machine learning, telehealth to inform patient transfers
      A woman being recorded using her inhaler on a smartphone.
      Digital check-ins, connected inhalers help control asthma
      Humana partners with in-home provider for 24/7 care
      A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
    • MedPAC likely to recommend CMS simplify alternative payment models
      Bundled payments reduce surgery costs by 10.7%
      Coordinated payment policies could speed transition to value, experts say
      CMMI's geographic direct contracting model needs an overhaul, experts say
  • Data/Lists
    • Rankings/Lists
    • Interactive Databases
    • Data Points
    • Health Systems Financials
      Executive Compensation
      Physician Compensation
  • Op-Ed
    • Bold Moves
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Vital Signs Blog
    • From the Editor
    • Dr. Alan Kaplan
      The risks, rewards of taking organizations 'where they haven’t gone before'
      Wellstar CEO calls adapting for the pandemic her bold move
      Howard P. Kern
      Recognizing the value of telehealth in its infancy
      Dr. Stephen Markovich
      A bold move helped take him from family doctor to OhioHealth CEO
    • Dr. Stephen Markovich
      Making sure we're aligned along the path to achieving inclusion
      Barry Ostrowsky
      Ending racism is a journey taken together; the starting point must be now
      Laura Lee Hall and Gary Puckrein
      Increased flu vaccination has never been more important for communities of color
      John Daniels Jr.
      Health equity: Making the journey from buzzword to reality
    • The COVID-19 experience and its influence on post-pandemic health policy
      Haven is history, but its mission is the future of healthcare
      Vaccinating children could be the key to ending the pandemic
      Mikelle Moore
      The promising future of rural healthcare, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Letters: Eliminating bias in healthcare needs to be ‘deliberate and organic’
      Letters: Maybe dropping out of ACOs is a good thing for patients
      Letters: White House and Congress share blame for lack of national COVID strategy
      Letters: VA making strides to improve state veterans home inspections
    • Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      How blockchain could ease frustration with the payment process
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Three steps to better data-sharing for payer and provider CIOs
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Reduce total cost of care: 6 reasons why providers and payers should tackle the challenge together
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Why CIOs went from back-office operators to mission-critical innovators
  • Awards
    • Award Programs
    • Nominate
    • Previous Award Programs
    • Other Award Programs
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare Logo for Navigation
      Nominations Open - Best Places to Work in Healthcare
      Nominations Open - 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
    • Top 25 Innovators
    • Minorities in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Minority Leaders
      • - Minorities to Watch
    • Women in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Women Leaders
      • - Women to Watch
    • Excellence in Nursing Awards
    • Design Awards
    • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
    • 100 Top Hospitals
    • ACHE Awards
  • Events
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Webinars
    • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • podium march webinar logo lockup
      Sponsored Content Provided By Podium
      Webinar: Critical Touchpoints for Every Patient’s Journey — How Technology Plays an Important Role
      scp health logo lockup march 2021
      Sponsored Content Provided By SCP Health
      Webinar: COVID’s call to action — Reset for success in 2021
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Healthcare Transformation Summit
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Virtual Briefings
      • - Hospital of the Future
      • - Mental Health
      • - Patient Safety & Quality
      • - Strategic Marketing
      • - Virtual Health
      • - Workplace of the Future
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
  • Listen
    • Podcast - Next Up
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Video Series - The Check Up
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Empty boardroom
      Next Up Podcast: What's going to happen tomorrow? Succession planning during emergencies
      Next Up Podcast: Educating patients on the COVID-19 vaccine with Tanya Andreadis
      Dr. Joseph Cacchione
      Next Up Podcast: Educating patients on the COVID-19 vaccine with Dr. Joseph Cacchione
      Dr. Karen DeSalvo
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next four years
    • Beyond the Byline: Insurers are betting on virtual-first plans as COVID-19 shifts care pathways
      Beyond the Byline: How residents' stories shape our coverage of the vaccination rollout in nursing homes
      Beyond the Byline: Regulators aim to boost value push with fraud and abuse law updates
      An older man wearing a mask receiving a vaccine.
      Beyond the Byline: Verifying information on the chaotic COVID-19 vaccine rollout
    • Outreach during COVID-19
      Leading intention promote diversity and inclusion
      Introducing Healthcare Insider Podcast
    • The Check Up: Dr. Marc Boom
      The Check Up: Dr. Marc Boom of Houston Methodist
      The Check Up: Dr. Imran Andrabi
      The Check Up: Dr. Imran Andrabi of ThedaCare
      The Check Up: Tanya Blackmon
      The Check Up: Tanya Blackmon of Novant Health
      The Check Up: Dr. Patrick Hwu
      The Check Up: Dr. Patrick Hwu of the Moffitt Cancer Center
    • ivana naeymi-rad one on one intelligent medical objects
      Video: Ivana Naeymi Rad of Intelligent Medical Objects
  • MORE +
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. People
June 12, 2020 11:43 PM

Birx, Fauci: America's chief health science communicators

Michael Brady
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Drs. Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci
    AP Photo

    Drs. Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci have been lauded for their leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the challenges of responding to an unknown virus in the public spotlight.

    Drs. Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci have garnered near-universal praise from the healthcare community for their leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    While both physicians have extensive track records of public service, they were relatively unknown to the public until bursting onto the national stage in March as America’s chief health science communicators, explaining the intricate details of previously arcane topics like disease transmission and vaccine development to an anxious and bewildered nation during their daily news briefings.

    Their steady leadership during the crisis earned them the top spot on this year’s listing of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives.

    “I just can’t imagine having better scientific leaders,” said former HHS Assistant Secretary Dr. Howard Koh, now a professor at Harvard University. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to them for their unbelievable public service during a time of crisis.”

    Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been lauded for his level-headed, no-nonsense approach to describing what scientists do and don’t know about the virus. And unlike most politicians and public officials, Fauci freely weighs the costs and benefits of different response measures. He’s an unusual figure enmeshed in American politics because he confronts uncertainty. He acknowledges trade-offs. Backed by his magnetic personality and distinct New York accent, he tells the public what it needs to hear, even if it’s bad news.

    “His insights represent the best science possible,” Koh said.

    Though Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, has not achieved the same level of acclaim, many people inside and outside the administration put her on equal footing with Fauci thanks to her tireless work coordinating the nation’s response to the pandemic. She’s largely responsible for arming senior administration officials with the information they need to respond to the crisis, spending hours each day poring over statistical models to better understand the spread of the virus and how to combat it.

    The Trump administration did not make Birx or Fauci available for comment.

    Despite the high praise from the healthcare community, both have come under largely political fire for their roles in the federal pandemic response.

    In April, some Republican lawmakers and conservative activists called for Fauci’s firing after he said more lives could have been saved if the U.S. had implemented mitigation strategies like social distancing sooner. President Donald Trump even retweeted one such call for action.

    Critics also attacked Fauci for his inability to predict the spread of the disease fully.

    “Fauci told us there’s nothing to worry about. That’s his quote, ‘There’s nothing to worry about,’ “ former White House adviser Steve Bannon said during an April 14 interview on The John Fredericks Show, a conservative radio program. Bannon was referencing comments Fauci made in January in which he told Newsmax that COVID-19 was “not a major threat … right now,” but that the public officials should take it seriously.

    They held him responsible for keeping the economy shut down, too. He became a political punching bag for a spell, despite his best efforts to sidestep politics and focus on science.

    “I don’t give advice about economic things,” Fauci said during a May 12 Senate hearing. “I don’t give advice about anything other than public health.”

    It was only a matter of time until he came under political pressure, having publicly contradicted the president on several occasions. Some people worry that could limit his influence inside the administration.

    Birx hasn’t escaped criticism either. Some experts have chastised her for publicly kowtowing to Trump when he’s made unsubstantiated claims about the prevalence of the virus, death rates or the proven effectiveness of possible COVID-19 treatments like Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir.

    But most people inside the industry agree that such criticisms about the nation’s most visible scientists are inaccurate or need to be put into context.

    Both Birx and Fauci have challenging jobs because they’re responding in real-time to a global pandemic caused by a previously unknown virus. Unlike many earlier outbreaks, there’s no existing body of scientific research to fall back on.

    This isn’t the first time they’ve been thrown into a politically charged public health crisis. Birx and Fauci cut their teeth responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, a disease that was initially thought to only affect LGBTQ people, especially men. It was originally called gay-related immune deficiency, or GRID.

    “You not only couldn’t make a diagnosis, you didn’t know what the problem was, and you didn’t know how to treat it. It was devastating,” Birx said during an interview at the George W. Bush Presidential Center last September.

    Now, once again, everyone is learning on the job. That includes federal agencies, states, providers, suppliers, public health experts and transportation professionals alike.

    “The big problem that we have is that you can have the right science, but if you don’t have the right delivery mechanism, it all goes for naught,” said Dr. Rod Hochman, CEO of Providence health system, which cared for the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the U.S.

    He said that if he were to level any criticism, he would direct it toward the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its slow initial response to the outbreak and vague guidelines.

    Those documents “were watered down into these kinds of nonsensical, simplistic, one-page guidelines that really aren’t helping people,” Hochman said. “You have to provide guidance at the top, instead what we’ve got now is a potpourri.”

    Both scientists are operating under tough political circumstances because the nature of the coronavirus can put the best available science at odds with politicians’ career interests and the nation's economic welfare—though the virus would hugely disrupt the economy regardless of what path the Trump administration chose.

    They’ve been delivering clear messages to the public in lockstep with each other, but “the president steps all over those messages,” said former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala, now a Democratic member of the House representing Florida’s 27th District.

    Birx is “not used to this daily kind of barrage or having someone that she works for that’s not a believer in science,” Shalala said.

    It’s a challenge that many people will recognize in their own lives, Hochman said.

    “We can all relate to it in our workplaces, where you’ve got to temper what your best opinion is by the environment that you work in,” he said. “I think that’s what both physicians are facing.”

    Even so, experts agree that Birx and Fauci have performed admirably since neither of them has the power to marshal the full resources of the federal government. Much of the nation’s response to the pandemic is beyond their immediate control, although they certainly have influence.

    That’s why both scientists need to stay in their roles, Hochman said.

    Birx is known as a shrewd political operator inside the White House. In March, she reportedly managed to convince Trump to extend social-distancing guidelines by 30 days, despite his deep desire to reopen the economy.

    “She’s a scientist who has to survive within the White House,” Shalala said. “I actually think she has the harder political job because Tony can go back to the NIH and testify and say anything he wants to say. Her job is a little more complicated than his.”

    50 Most Influential Clinical Executives - 2020

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    Cleveland's UH creates position of chief whole health and well-being officer
    Cleveland's UH creates position of chief whole health and well-being officer
    Q&A: Emerging leader Alicia Wilson on staying close to home
    Q&A: Emerging leader Alicia Wilson on staying close to home
    Sponsored Content
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up for free enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today

    The weekly magazine, websites, research and databases provide a powerful and all-encompassing industry presence. We help you make informed business decisions and lead your organizations to success.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Instagram

    Stay Connected

    Join the conversation with Modern Healthcare through our social media pages

    MDHC_Logotype_white
    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • This Week's News
      • COVID-19
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition
    • Insights
      • ACA 10 Years After
      • Best Practices
      • Special Reports
      • Innovations
    • Transformation
      • Patients
      • Operations
      • Care Delivery
      • Payment
    • Data/Lists
      • Rankings/Lists
      • Interactive Databases
      • Data Points
    • Op-Ed
      • Bold Moves
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • Vital Signs Blog
      • From the Editor
    • Awards
      • Award Programs
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top 25 Innovators
        • Minorities in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Minority Leaders
          • - Minorities to Watch
        • Women in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Women Leaders
          • - Women to Watch
      • Nominate
      • Previous Award Programs
        • Excellence in Nursing Awards
        • Design Awards
        • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
      • Other Award Programs
        • 100 Top Hospitals
        • ACHE Awards
    • Events
      • Conferences
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
        • Healthcare Transformation Summit
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Virtual Briefings
          • - Hospital of the Future
          • - Mental Health
          • - Patient Safety & Quality
          • - Strategic Marketing
          • - Virtual Health
          • - Workplace of the Future
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Webinars
      • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • Listen
      • Podcast - Next Up
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Video Series - The Check Up
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • MORE +
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Newsletters
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing