Nirav D. Shah

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This article is about the American epidemiologist. For the Indian cinematographer, see Nirav Shah.

Nirav Shah
Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In office
July 1, 2023 – July 10, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
DeputyHimself
Preceded byRochelle Walensky
Succeeded byMandy Cohen
Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Assumed office
March 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byDebra Houry (acting)
Personal details
Born
Nirav Dinesh Shah

1977 (age 46–47)
EducationUniversity of Louisville (BS)
University of Oxford
University of Chicago (JD, MD)

Nirav Dinesh Shah (born 1977) is an American epidemiologist, economist and attorney. He worked as an economist and epidemiologist at the Cambodian Ministry of Health. Shah was appointed as the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health in 2015 and served in that role until 2019. He served as the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to 2023. In January 2023, he was appointed as the principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and he assumed that position in March 2023.[1][2] Following the resignation of Rochelle Walensky, Shah served as the acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July 2023 until Mandy Cohen assumed office.[3][4]

Early life and education[edit]

Shah was born in 1977[5] to Indian immigrants to the United States[6][7] and grew up in Wisconsin.[7] He attended the University of Louisville where he majored in psychology and biology, receiving a Bachelor of Science in 1999.[7][6]

After college, Shah studied economics at Oxford University[8][6] and enrolled in medical school at the University of Chicago in 2000.[9] Shah completed his Juris Doctor in 2007 and his Doctor of Medicine in 2008, both from the University of Chicago, and was a recipient of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.[5][8][6]

Career[edit]

Cambodian Ministry of Health[edit]

In 2001, Shah accepted a Henry Luce Scholar fellowship in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, working for the Ministry of Health as an economist and epidemiologist. His work included outbreak investigation and management, studying the cost effectiveness of public health programs, efforts to curb the distribution of counterfeit drugs, and combatting corruption in the public health system. By the 2003 conclusion of his experience there, Shah was the chief economist at the Ministry.[10][6][8][9]

While in Cambodia, Shah aided the response to the SARS and Avian influenza outbreaks. In a March 2021 interview, he credited his experiences in Cambodia, as well as his ongoing communication with colleagues in Southeast Asia, with his ability to help prepare Maine for COVID-19 as its state CDC director, especially relating to the early procurement of personal protective equipment.[11][12]

At the conclusion of the fellowship, Shah returned to the University of Chicago where he continued to work with the Cambodian government. While completing both medical and law school, he regularly videoconferenced with colleagues in Southeast Asia and occasionally traveled back to Cambodia.[9]

Illinois[edit]

Following medical school, Shah worked as a health care attorney at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago from 2008 to 2015.[5][7][10][9]

In 2015, Illinois governor Bruce Rauner appointed Shah director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.[5][10][7] During his tenure, Shah worked on initiatives combatting the opioid crisis in Illinois, addressing childhood lead poisoning, and reducing maternal and infant mortality.[8]

In August 2015, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease resulted in 13 deaths and 74 infections at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy, Illinois.[13] Shah was among several state officials heavily criticized for their response to the outbreak, and a 2019 state audit report of the incident indicated that the state CDC did not visit the facility until the 12th day of the outbreak. Although Shah maintains that the agency followed all federal guidelines and moved quickly: "The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) did not go on-site at Quincy Veterans’ Home until midday on Monday, August 24. That was nearly three days (approximately 67 hours) after the 2nd case was confirmed late in the afternoon on August 21. The site visit focused on one building where the two confirmed cases were located." according to the State of Illinois Performance Audit by Frank J. Mautino, Auditor General. "During the 2015 outbreak, auditors determined that there was limited communication between IDPH and the Quincy Veterans’ Home staff. IDPH officials often did not know the seriousness of the problem at the Quincy Veterans’ Home."[14]

Illinois senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth called for Shah's resignation, but Shah remained in his position until Rauner lost his re-election bid in 2018.[10][13] In April 2020, the State of Illinois reached a $6.4 million settlement agreement with several families of veterans who died in the outbreak.[15]

Maine and COVID-19[edit]

In June 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills appointed Shah as the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.[8] He immediately sought to fill more than 100 vacancies within the department.[5][13][16] A few weeks after he began, a group of more than 200 asylum seekers arrived in Portland, Maine, and were temporarily housed at the Portland Exposition Building. In his first public actions as CDC Director, Shah visited the facility, dispatched public health nurses to vaccinate the families and conduct health screenings, and worked with local healthcare providers to provide basic needs.[17][16]

Beginning March 9, 2020, Shah began delivering daily press conferences regarding the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Maine CDC's preparedness.[10] As the pandemic developed, Shah received praise for his communication style, delivering information using measured, detailed and simple answers, real-life examples, and effective metaphors devoid of scientific jargon.[10][5][17] For example, when asked to detail proper hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Shah explained “Wash your hands as if you have just sliced a bag of jalapeño peppers and now need to take out your contact lenses.”[13]

Shah embraced three principles for his regular briefings: Be truthful, answer questions directly, and "acknowledge the statistics and numbers without overlooking the human element."[12] Public health experts praised his enduring compassion[10][17] as he consistently reminded viewers that each case number and death represented a family member, friend and neighbor.[18] Shah also frequently included song lyrics and Dad jokes in an attempt to bring appropriate levity to his pandemic reports.[13][11][19]

Shah's communication style and public face led to a significant following throughout Maine: A "Fans of Dr. Nirav Shah" Facebook page reached over 35,000 members. Stickers, T-shirts and mugs with Shah's likeness and the slogan "In Shah We Trust" and "Keep Calm and Listen to Dr. Shah" were printed and sold to benefit local nonprofits.[5][7] Local confectioner Wilbur's of Maine produced "Shah bars" with his photo on the wrapper,[5][20] and an "In Shah We Trust" electronic road sign was erected in Topsham, Maine.

In early 2021, Shah became President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and he prioritized states' preparation for COVID-19 vaccine rollouts nationwide.[5]

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[edit]

In January 2023, he was appointed as the Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and he had assumed that position in March 2023.[2] Shah served as the Acting Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July 2023.[3][4] In his capacity as the Acting Director of the U.S. CDC Shah also served as the Acting Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Personal life[edit]

Shah and his wife Kara Palamountain,[21] a research professor at Northwestern University,[16] are avid home cooks.[21] Shah speaks a few languages: English, Khmer, Gujarati, and some Spanish.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ St Pierre, Ariana (January 12, 2023). "Dr. Nirav Shah leaving Maine CDC to join U.S. CDC". WGME. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Principal Deputy Director". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "The CDC is getting a new leader as it seeks to remake itself after the pandemic". Government Executive. June 30, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "The CDC Director Walensky Leaves Deep Divides, Weary Staff for Successor to Heal". Bloomberg. June 30, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Weixel, Nathaniel (March 9, 2021). "Guiding Maine through the pandemic". The Hill. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Nirav Shah, 2005". P.D. Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Grunewald, Will (July 28, 2020). ""In Shah We Trust"". Down East. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Dr. Nirav Shah to provide UMA Convocation Keynote". University of Maine at Augusta. August 21, 2020. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d "Nirav Shah, '07: JD/MD Impacts National, Global Public Health Regulation". The University of Chicago: The Law School. April 5, 2016. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Russell, Eric (April 10, 2020). "'The adult in the room': CDC director is the face of Maine's coronavirus response". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Carrigan, Don (March 8, 2021). "Full interview: Don Carrigan sits down with Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah". NEWS CENTER Maine on YouTube. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Ruppel, Ellen (October 16, 2020). "How Straight Talk Helped One State Control COVID". Scientific American. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e Piper, Jessica (March 21, 2020). "How a Coldplay-quoting doctor became the face of Maine's coronavirus response". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  14. ^ (19-Quincy-Legionnaires-Disease-Perf-Full.pdf)
  15. ^ McKinney, Dave; Arnold, Tony (April 10, 2020). "Illinois Will Pay Nearly $6.4 Million To The Families Of Vets Who Died In State Home". WBEZ Chicago. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c Lawlor, Joe (June 19, 2019). "New director of Maine CDC outlines priorities, starting with hiring". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c Rooks, Douglas (July 22, 2020). "Maine CDC's Dr. Nirav Shah: 'Public policy is important, but what the public does is even more important'". Portland Phoenix. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  18. ^ Koenig, Paul (October 2020). "The Communicator In Chief". Maine. The magazine. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  19. ^ WGME (September 3, 2020). "Maine CDC Director quotes Rick Astley in message on contact tracing". WGME. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  20. ^ Mannino, Gabrielle (June 22, 2020). "The 'Shah Bar' is just as sweet as your favorite CDC director". NEWS CENTER Maine. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Warner, Scott. "Eclectic Background Pays Off". Chicago Medical Society. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.

External links[edit]

Government offices
Preceded by Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Acting
2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Debra Houry
(acting)
 Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2023-present 		Incumbent
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