Understanding Dr. Birx

By SAM URETSKY

When, if ever, the definitive history of the COVID-19 pandemic is written, it will be interesting to see what history makes of Dr. Deborah Birx, a brilliant and dedicated physician who served in various government roles, essentially ending her career as Trump’s White House coordinator for the pandemic response. On March 30, Matt Bai wrote in the Washington Post, “If you paid attention to Deborah Birx’s body language while President Donald Trump held forth on the pandemic last year — touching her forehead as though she might have a fever, twisting her mouth as though she’d just tasted mold — you knew the day would come when she would seek public absolution.”

“Birx doesn’t deserve our pardon, but it’s worth trying to understand the essential choice she made. In fact, “Birx’s Dilemma” ought to be taught in public policy schools until the end of time.”

Dr. Birx had served the United States in many roles. As an Army officer, she had risen to the rank of colonel. From 2005 to 2014 she led and managed all of CDC’s global HIV/AIDS activities in support of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In 2014, she was assigned to the Department of State to lead PEPFAR as the Global AIDS Coordinator and Representative for Global Health Diplomacy. In 2020, she was assigned to be the White House COVID Response Coordinator.

D. Birx was co-author of 118 published reports in the medical literature including:

“Laboratory medicine in Africa since 2008: then, now, and the future”

“Association of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s Funding With Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Kenya”

“HIV-1 Genetic Diversity Among Incident Infections in Mbeya, Tanzania”

“Laboratory challenges in the scaling up of HIV, TB, and malaria programs: The interaction of health and laboratory systems, clinical research, and service delivery”

Her awards include the Legion of Honor, the Desmond Tutu Award for HIV Prevention Research and Human Rights, and others.

In February 2020, Dr. Birx was appointed as the White House coronavirus response coordinator, with functions including standing behind President Trump as he gave his daily COVID-19 updates. While the president, a former reality show star, seemed comfortable congratulating his administration on the fine work they were doing: “FEMA will be sending 6,000 masks to states where the crisis is most acute. [Pause.] Huh. That’s a lot of masks. Many, many masks. Just incredible. We’re doing an incredible job, really amazing” Dr. Birx and a select group of physicians, politicians, and administration sycophants stood by letting their presence signify assent.

Dr. Birx was clearly uncomfortable, ready to interrupt, to scream, to grab the microphone. She didn’t, and now, according to Mr. Bai, she is seeking absolution.

Absolution – for through her presence lending credibility to the man who said, “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.” “Stock Market starting to look very good to me!” “It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”

She stood there, no doubt wondering what effect her resignation would have on the public perception of the risks of the pandemic, or would it simply be ignored like so many resignations that had gone before, to be replaced by an “acting” official since they’re easier to replace.  Maybe she would be able to do more good if she remained on the inside, and might get the ear of the president, who seemed impervious to science or clinical experience.

In an August 2020 interview, after announcing her retirement on CNN, Dr. Birx said, “What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread. It’s into the rural as equal urban areas ... To everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus … If you’re in multi-generational households, and there’s an outbreak in your rural area or in your city, you need to really consider wearing a mask at home, assuming that you’re positive, if you have individuals in your households with comorbidities ...This epidemic right now is different and it’s more widespread and it’s both rural and urban.”

She was immediately criticized for not speaking out before, and perhaps the critics are right, but she must have anticipated that and chose to make the sacrifice of her reputation in the hope that she could accomplish more from inside the administration. In the end, she was wrong, but she deserves full recognition for her choice. Deborah Birx is a great physician and a noble American, and probably a martyr. She deserves better than she has been given.

Sam Uretsky is a writer and pharmacist living in Louisville, Ky. Email sdu01@outlook.com.

From The Progressive Populist, May 1, 2021

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