Anthony Stephen Fauci, born on December 24, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian immigrant parents, is an American physician-scientist and immunologist renowned for his contributions to public health and infectious disease research. Growing up in a family of pharmacists, he developed an early interest in medicine. He excelled academically, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1962 before graduating first in his class from Cornell University Medical College with an MD in 1966. Following medical school, he completed his residency in internal medicine at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and pursued further training in immunology, joining the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1968 as a clinical associate at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Fauci's career at NIAID spanned over five decades, during which he rose to become the institute's director in 1984, serving as the director of NIAID until 2022 and later as its former director. He became a leading figure in the fight against HIV/AIDS, advocating for research and treatment advancements, and played a pivotal role in the development of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). From 1985 to 1992, he served as the AIDS coordinator for the U.S. Public Health Service, and his work earned him widespread recognition, including being one of the most cited scientists globally from 1983 to 2002. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci served as a key advisor to multiple U.S. presidents, acting as the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2022 and a prominent voice in public health communications. He advised seven presidential administrations on health crises, including HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19.

Fauci's contributions have been honored with prestigious awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 from President George W. Bush for his AIDS relief efforts. Despite his achievements, Fauci has faced political opposition and criticism, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He retired from government service in December 2022 but continues to influence global health discussions through his expertise and writings.