Julie Gerberding resigns CDC director post

Julie Gerberding resigns CDC director post

Apparent victim of political transition

The infection prevention community has lost a high-placed ally, as Julie Gerberding, MD, has stepped down as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the political changes of the new administration. A new director had not been named as this issue went to press.

With a background in HIV prevention and hospital epidemiology, Gerberding came to the CDC in 1998 to direct the old hospital infections program, which she revamped into the current CDC Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. Her ascent to lead the agency in 2002 was a surprising but popular choice after she emerged as a voice of authoritative calm in the chaos of the anthrax attacks. With a background in infection prevention, Gerberding was well aware of the role of IPs and frequently spoke at national meetings on infection prevention. Always an agent of change, she never was far from controversy, particularly when she launched on ongoing CDC makeover that stirred up morale problems and prompted an unusual letter of concern from former CDC directors.

According to the Associated Press, Gerberding said she expected she might leave her job after the Bush administration left office. But colleagues said she quietly had held out hope she would be allowed to stay on in the job, the AP reported.