Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is coming under attack from the White House of President Donald Trump. But doctors and scientists around the nation are lining up to defend the infectious disease expert.
Earlier this week, the White House leaked a memo attempting to discredit Fauci, and on Wednesday, Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro published an attack on Fauci in USA Today. In response, multiple scientific organizations representing thousands of doctors and scientists released statements in support of Fauci.
The Association of American Medical Colleges said it was “extremely concerned and alarmed by efforts to discredit” Fauci.
“America should be applauding Dr. Fauci for his service and following his advice, not undermining his credibility at this critical time,” the organization said.
One scientist’s stirring tribute to Fauci has been widely shared on Twitter.
Adam Phillippy, a senior investigator at the National Human Genome Research Institute, shared a 2015 image from Science Magazine of Fauci ― then 74 ― wearing a protective suit to help treat an American healthcare worker who had been infected with Ebola:
“I do believe that one gets unique insights into disease when you actually physically interact with patients,” Fauci told the magazine at the time.
“It is very exciting and gratifying to participate in saving someone’s life,” he added.
