In a historic move, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has announced the nomination of Indian-American scientist Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as the new Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This marks a significant milestone as Dr. Bhattacharya becomes the first Indian-American to be selected by Mr. Trump for a key administrative position in his upcoming administration.
Dr. Bhattacharya, a distinguished professor of health policy at Stanford University, brings decades of research and leadership experience to the nation’s top health research institution. His appointment reflects Mr. Trump’s vision to reinvigorate the NIH and tackle America’s pressing health challenges.
“I am thrilled to nominate Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to serve as Director of the National Institutes of Health,” Mr. Trump announced in a statement. “Dr. Bhattacharya will work in cooperation with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct the nation’s medical research and to make critical discoveries that will improve health and save lives.”
Pioneering Leadership to Transform NIH
With this nomination, Mr. Trump emphasized restoring the NIH to its “Gold Standard of Medical Research.” He highlighted the crucial role Dr. Bhattacharya will play alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address the underlying causes of chronic illnesses and other health crises.
“Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America’s biggest health challenges, including our crisis of chronic illness and disease. Together, they will work hard to Make America Healthy Again,” Mr. Trump said.
Who is Jay Bhattacharya?
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is a renowned academic whose research spans health economics, public health, and biomedical innovation. At Stanford University, he directs the Center for Demography and Economics of Health and Aging. A prolific author, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya’s peer-reviewed work has been published across medical, legal, and public health journals.
Jay Bhattacharya is best known as a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, a proposal for alternatives to widespread lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Bhattacharya’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations aligns with the NIH’s mission to advance biomedical research and innovation.
Holding both an MD and a PhD in Economics from Stanford, he represents a unique blend of clinical expertise and economic analysis, a combination Mr. Trump believes will steer the NIH toward unprecedented achievements.
Collaborating with RFK Jr. and Jim O’Neill
Dr. Bhattacharya’s nomination is part of a broader plan by Mr. Trump to overhaul the nation’s healthcare infrastructure. Jim O’Neill, a reform-driven leader in health policy, has been nominated as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. O’Neill will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to oversee operational improvements and ensure transparency and accountability.
“He (Mr. O’Neill) will oversee all operations and improve management, transparency, and accountability to Make America Healthy Again,” Mr. Trump remarked.
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