Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, has been named interim director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the agency's official site.
Dr. Bhattacharya is a physician, researcher, and health economist with academic appointments including a professorship at Stanford University School of Medicine. His research primarily focuses on aging populations and chronic diseases, with special attention to the health of vulnerable groups.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bhattacharya coauthored the Great Barrington Declaration, advocating for reopening schools and lifting lockdowns while increasing protections for elderly populations. He has also held honorary appointments at several Stanford institutes and departments related to economics and policy research.
His academic background includes undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics, as well as an MD and PhD in economics, all from Stanford University. He is a longtime NIH grantee and has served on multiple NIH review committees.