Through Sharing His ‘Journey in Public Service,’ Fauci Encourages Students to Pursue Their Passions
(January 24, 2025) — Years before becoming widely known for his role on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Anthony Fauci, MD, was an early career physician planning to practice medicine in New York City. By taking part in an NIH fellowship, he learned that he could improve patient care by working in research, a realization that changed the trajectory of his career.
“It was only when I got exposed to the concept of research, where what you could do would not only be good for your individual patient, but what you learned could also be used and have a multiplier effect for other physicians, nurses and health care providers,” said Fauci, a distinguished university professor with appointments at Georgetown University School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy.
“A Journey in Public Service” featured Anthony Fauci, MD, in discussion with Christopher King, PhD, FACHE, School of Health dean.
In “A Journey in Public Service,” a discussion with Christopher King, PhD, FACHE, dean of the Georgetown University School of Health, Fauci spoke about how following his passion for patient care ultimately led him to a distinguished career in public service.
Fauci joined the faculty at Georgetown in July 2023 after a distinguished career at the NIH, including 38 years of service as director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
“I want to thank you for choosing us, coming back here to Georgetown, and making yourself accessible,” King said during the January 15 discussion in Gaston Hall. “You’ve been accessible to our students, to our faculty, you’ve just been so kind and generous with your time, and for that, we are thankful.”
From Early Career Breakthroughs to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Early in his tenure at the NIAID, Fauci contributed to breakthroughs in the treatment of vasculitis, transforming the prognosis for a condition that had a high mortality rate. “We developed a therapy that was very provocative, and we used low doses of drugs that they use to treat cancer, which actually changed the whole field,” he said.
Fauci spoke about how following his passion for patient care ultimately led him to a distinguished career in public service.
In the summer of 1981, Fauci read reports in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report about seriously ill gay men who had developed conditions that had only been seen in patients with compromised immune systems. While Fauci’s mentors and colleagues discouraged him from turning his attention to the novel virus that would come to be known as HIV, “I had this overwhelming feeling that this is a challenge I can’t walk away from,” he said.
As one of the few HIV/AIDS researchers working for the federal government, Fauci was singled out by activists who were frustrated with the slow pace of AIDS research and participated in provocative demonstrations. Over time, Fauci came to realize that the regulatory process for new drugs was ill suited for a novel virus that was killing half of those infected within a year of their diagnosis and had no existing treatments.
In a decision that he described as “probably one of the best things that I’ve done in my professional career,” Fauci started listening to the activists and eventually invited them to help collaborate on clinical trial design. “When I was listening to what they were saying, they were making perfect sense,” he said. “And I said to myself, if I were in their shoes, I would be doing exactly what they were doing.”
After the event, Fauci met with students including Kayla Wontumi (H’27).
King praised Fauci for building relationships with the activists. “One of the core competencies that we teach at the School of Health is the importance of humility and really humbling yourself when you go into targeted communities,” King said. “You did a great job with that.”
Kayla Wontumi (H’27), a global health major on the pre-med track, was inspired to hear Fauci speak about his choice to get involved in the fight against AIDS. “During the period of uncertainty surrounding the heavily stigmatized HIV/AIDS epidemic, Dr. Fauci actively remained committed to aiding vulnerable populations through advancing science and medicine,” she said. “Through this story, he highlighted the significance of empathizing with and advocating for all individuals, even when faced with opposition.”
Inspiring Students
Fauci told attendees that ignoring distractions has been imperative throughout his career. “I focus on what my goal is and what my purpose and what my endpoint is, and if you have enough confidence that what you’re doing is the right thing, those other things that go on are really peripheral noise that we shouldn’t let distract you or veer you off course,” he said.
Fauci posed for a picture with Isra Satiar (H’26).
“He encouraged us to pursue the topics that truly interest us, and to never compromise our values along the way,” said Isra Satiar (H’26), a human science major. “That was extremely comforting to hear, knowing that Dr. Fauci, one of the most inspirational physicians of our time, simply used his heart as a compass and allowed it to lead him toward a journey of service and impact.”
Satiar also felt reassured to hear Fauci share that his career went in a direction that he didn’t anticipate. “What resonated with me most was the message both Dr. Fauci and Dean King emphasized throughout the discussion: it’s OK to still be ‘figuring it out’ and not have everything about your future perfectly mapped out,” she said.
The discussion reaffirmed Wontumi’s interest in public service. “Public service is essential to improving the health and well-being of individuals worldwide, and this event provided me with invaluable insight on how I can contribute meaningfully to society,” she said. “After this event, I certainly feel more compelled to participate in public service every opportunity that I get, and to empathize with those in need.”
Kat Zambon
GUMC Communications