Deborah Leah Birx is an American physician and diplomat known for her work in HIV/AIDS immunology, vaccine research, and global health. She served as the United States global AIDS coordinator under both Presidents Obama and Trump, overseeing the PEPFAR program that supports HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in numerous countries. From 2020 to 2021, Birx held a prominent role as the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator during the Trump administration. Following this, she joined ActivePure Technology as Chief Medical and Science Advisor in 2021.
Deborah Leah Birx was born on April 4, 1956.
While attending Hershey Medical School in 1976, Birx married Bryan Dudley Raybuck, a fellow medical student she met at Houghton University. She also obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, completing her undergraduate studies in just two years.
Birx earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in 1980.
Deborah Birx embarked on her career as a physician at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 1980.
Deborah Birx's service in the United States Army began in 1980 as an active duty reserve officer.
In 1981, Birx successfully completed a one-year internship followed by a two-year residency in internal medicine.
Deborah Birx pursued further specialization with two fellowships in clinical immunology, focusing on allergies and diagnostics, commencing in 1983.
Deborah Birx was appointed as the assistant chief of the Walter Reed Allergy/Immunology Service in 1985.
By 1986, Birx had completed her fellowships in clinical immunology and transitioned her focus to HIV/AIDS vaccine research.
In 1986, Birx began working as an investigator at the National Institutes of Health, specializing in cellular immunology.
Deborah Birx finished her work as an investigator specializing in cellular immunology at the National Institutes of Health in 1989.
Birx rejoined Walter Reed in 1989, working in the Department of Retroviral Research, marking her return to the institution where she started her career.
After nine years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Birx moved on to the National Institutes of Health to continue her research in 1989.
In 1994, Birx transitioned to active duty regular Army from her previous reserve officer status.
In 1995, Birx shifted her focus within Walter Reed to lead HIV-1 Vaccine Development as lab director.
Taking on a pivotal role, Birx became the director of the United States Military HIV Research Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in 1996.
Birx began her role as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Global HIV/AIDS in 2005.
Deborah Birx concluded her nine-year tenure as the director of the United States Military HIV Research Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in 2005.
Deborah Birx concluded her active duty in the regular Army in 2008, having achieved the rank of Colonel.
President Barack Obama nominated Deborah Birx for the position of Ambassador-at-Large and U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator in January 2014.
Deborah Birx was confirmed by the Senate on April 2, 2014, and was sworn in two days later.
Deborah Birx's time as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Global HIV/AIDS came to an end in 2014.
Deborah Birx began overseeing the implementation of PEPFAR and served as the United States global AIDS coordinator in 2014.
Birx played a key role in setting targets to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, reflecting her dedication to global health issues.
In 2015, Birx took on the role of U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy and aimed to contribute to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
In February 2020, Birx joined the White House Coronavirus Task Force and faced scrutiny for her management style at PEPFAR, described as "dictatorial" in a State Department audit.
The management of PEPFAR under Birx's leadership came under scrutiny in February 2020 due to an audit that described her leadership style as "dictatorial."
Deborah Birx was appointed to the position of White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator on February 27, 2020, by Vice President Pence.
Deborah Birx joined the board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in March 2020.
During a press conference on March 26, 2020, Birx reassured Americans that the United States had sufficient healthcare capacity, stating that there was no evidence to suggest otherwise.
On April 16, 2020, a reopening plan, developed under Birx's leadership, was presented by President Trump, outlining voluntary standards for states to ease coronavirus lockdowns.
As states began reopening, Birx continued to advocate for precautions against the virus on May 3, 2020, emphasizing the importance of social distancing.
In July 2020, a working group led by Birx instructed hospitals to send all COVID-19 patient data to a Department of Health and Human Services database instead of the CDC, raising concerns among some health experts.
On August 2, 2020, Birx recommended that individuals living with vulnerable individuals consider wearing masks at home due to the widespread nature of the coronavirus.
After Scott Atlas joined the White House as President Trump's primary COVID-19 advisor on August 10, 2020, Birx shifted her focus to working directly with state and local officials on implementing mask mandates and social distancing guidelines.
While in Minnesota in October 2020, Birx shared her hope for a specific outcome in the upcoming presidential election with Andy Slavitt.
In November 2020, Deborah Birx authored an internal report emphasizing the urgent need for the Administration to advocate for mask wearing, physical distancing, and avoiding gatherings. The report highlighted the necessity of an aggressive, balanced approach to combat the emerging wave of the pandemic, which, according to Birx, was not being implemented.
In December 2020, Birx announced her intention to retire from government shortly after Joe Biden's assumption of office. Citing the overwhelming nature of her tenure and its toll on her family, she expressed her willingness to stay on only as long as necessary.
In December 2020, Birx issued a warning that while crucial, the vaccine alone would not suffice in curbing the ongoing surge of the pandemic. She stressed the need for a multifaceted approach to effectively combat the virus.
Deborah Birx concluded her role as the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator in January 2021.
On January 20, 2021, Deborah Birx's term ended, marking her departure from government. Following her exit, she revealed her frequent contemplation of resigning from her role as White House coronavirus response coordinator due to the Trump administration's intense partisanship.
Deborah Birx assumed the position of Chief Medical and Science Advisor at ActivePure Technology in March 2021.
In March 2021, Deborah Birx assumed the role of a senior fellow at the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, Texas. In this capacity, she dedicated her efforts to initiatives aimed at mitigating health disparities and enhancing preparedness for future pandemics.
In July 2022, during a Fox News interview, Birx expressed her view that the emphasis on vaccines might have been overstated, potentially leading to concerns about their efficacy against severe illness. She emphasized the continued importance of vaccination and boosting but highlighted the critical role of testing and antiviral treatments, particularly Paxlovid, in saving lives, especially for those over 70.
Deborah Birx set an ambitious goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.