Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to president Joe Biden and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will step down from both positions at the end of this year.
In a statement released Monday, Fauci said that he will be leaving those positions to “pursue the next chapter in my career.”
“While I am moving on from my current positions, I am not retiring,” Fauci said. “After more than 50 years of government service, I plan to pursue the next phase of my career while I still have so much energy and passion for my field.”
He added: “I want to use what I have learned as NIAID Director to continue to advance science and public health and to inspire and mentor the next generation of scientific leaders as they help prepare the world to face future infectious disease threats.”
Fauci’s announcement marked the end of nearly four decades as the nation’s top infectious disease expert.