CDC Director Is Out, Government E-mail Says

An e-mail sent Friday evening to CDC employees announced that Dr. Julie Gerberding, the agency's director since July 2002, is resigning as of inauguration day. The memo announcing Gerberding's resignation was signed by Rich McKeown, chief of staff for current US Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. The memo also said that William Gimson, CDC's chief operating officer, will become interim director. "As part of the transition process, the Administration requested resignation letters from a number of senior-level officials, including Dr. Julie Gerberding. This week, the Administration accepted Dr. Gerberding's resignation, effective Jan. 20," CDC spokesperson Glen Nowak said in a prepared statement. Gerberding became director following the March 2002 resignation of Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, who had been appointed by President Clinton. She was the first woman to head the agency.

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