Nirav D. Shah

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This article is about the American epidemiologist. For the Indian cinematographer, see Nirav Shah.
Nirav D. Shah
Born1977 (age 44–45)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Louisville (BS)
University of Chicago (JD, MD)
OccupationEpidemiologist, economist, attorney
Known forMaine CDC director during COVID-19 pandemic

Nirav Dinesh Shah (1977) is an American epidemiologist, economist and attorney. He received both a Juris Doctor and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Chicago and worked as an economist and epidemiologist at the Cambodian Ministry of Health. Shah practiced law at Sidley Austin before being appointed as the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, serving in that role until 2019. Shah is currently the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and was the public face of Maine's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, holding regular televised press conferences beginning in early March 2020.

Early life and education[]

Shah was born in 1977[1] to Indian immigrants to the United States[2][3] and grew up in Wisconsin.[3] He attended the University of Louisville where he majored in psychology and biology, receiving a Bachelor of Science in 1999.[3][2]

After college, Shah studied economics at Oxford University[4][2] and enrolled in medical school at the University of Chicago in 2000.[5] Shah completed his Juris Doctor in 2007 and his Doctor of Medicine in 2008, both from the University of Chicago, and was a recipient of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.[1][4][2]

Career[]

Cambodian Ministry of Health[]

In 2001, Shah accepted a Henry Luce Scholar fellowship in Phnom Penh, Cambodia working for the Ministry of Health as an economist and epidemiologist. His work included outbreak investigation and management, studying the cost effectiveness of public health programs, efforts to curb the distribution of counterfeit drugs, and combatting corruption in the public health system. By the 2003 conclusion of his experience there, Shah was the chief economist at the Ministry.[6][2][4][5]

While in Cambodia, Shah aided the response to the SARS and Avian influenza outbreaks. In a March 2021 interview, he credited his experiences in Cambodia, as well as his ongoing communication with colleagues in Southeast Asia, with his ability to help prepare Maine for COVID-19 as its state CDC director, especially relating to the early procurement of personal protective equipment.[7][8]

At the conclusion of the fellowship, Shah returned to the University of Chicago where he continued to work with the Cambodian government. While completing both medical and law school, he regularly videoconferenced with colleagues in Southeast Asia and occasionally traveled back to Cambodia.[5]

Illinois[]

Following medical school, Shah worked as a health care attorney at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago from 2008 to 2015.[1][3][6][5]

In 2015, Illinois governor Bruce Rauner appointed Shah director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.[1][6][3] During his tenure, Shah worked on initiatives combatting the opioid crisis in Illinois, addressing childhood lead poisoning, and reducing maternal and infant mortality.[4]

In August 2015, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease resulted in 13 deaths and 74 infections at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy, Illinois.[9] Shah was among several state officials heavily criticized for their response to the outbreak, and a 2019 state audit report of the incident indicated that the state CDC did not visit the facility until the 12th day of the outbreak. Shah maintains that the agency followed all federal guidelines and moved quickly: His department notified the Adams County health department minutes after learning of a second case, and that department, who was designated the initial responder based on state procedures, was present on site within the first day of the outbreak.[10][11] The audit also cited a lack of communication to the state health department from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.[6]

Illinois senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth called for Shah's resignation, but Shah remained in his position until Rauner lost his re-election bid in 2018.[6][9] In April 2020, the State of Illinois reached a $6.4 million settlement agreement with several families of veterans who died in the outbreak.[12]

Maine and COVID-19[]

In June 2019, Maine governor Janet Mills appointed Shah director of the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[4] He immediately sought to fill more than 100 vacancies within the department.[1][9][13] A few weeks after he began, a group of more than 200 asylum seekers arrived in Portland, Maine and were temporarily housed at the Portland Exposition Building. In his first public actions as CDC director, Shah visited the facility, dispatched public health nurses to vaccinate the families and conduct health screenings, and worked with local healthcare providers to provide basic needs.[14][13]

Beginning March 9, 2020, Shah began delivering daily press conferences regarding the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Maine CDC's preparedness.[6] As the pandemic developed, Shah received praise for his communication style, delivering information using measured, detailed and simple answers, real-life examples, and effective metaphors devoid of scientific jargon.[6][1][14] For example, when asked to detail proper hand-washing techniques to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Shah explained “Wash your hands as if you have just sliced a bag of jalapeño peppers and now need to take out your contact lenses.”[9]

Shah embraced three principles for his regular briefings: Be truthful, answer questions directly, and "acknowledge the statistics and numbers without overlooking the human element."[8] Public health experts praised his enduring compassion[6][14] as he consistently reminded viewers that each case number and death represented a family member, friend and neighbor.[15] Shah also frequently included song lyrics and Dad jokes in an attempt to bring appropriate levity to his pandemic reports.[9][7][16]

Shah's communication style and public face led to a significant following throughout Maine: A "Fans of Dr. Nirav Shah" Facebook page reached over 35,000 members. Stickers, T-shirts and mugs with Shah's likeness and the slogan "In Shah We Trust" and "Keep Calm and Listen to Dr. Shah" were printed and sold to benefit local nonprofits.[1][3] Local confectioner Wilbur's of Maine produced "Shah bars" with his photo on the wrapper,[1][17] and an "In Shah We Trust" electronic road sign was erected in Topsham, Maine.

In early 2021, Shah became president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and he prioritized states' preparation for COVID-19 vaccine rollouts nationwide.[1]

Personal life[]

Shah and his wife Kara Palamountain,[18] a research professor at Northwestern University,[13] are avid home cooks.[18] Shah speaks several languages: English, Khmer, Gujarati, and some Spanish.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Weixel, Nathaniel (9 March 2021). "Guiding Maine through the pandemic". The Hill. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Nirav Shah, 2005". P.D. Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Grunewald, Will (28 July 2020). ""In Shah We Trust"". Down East. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Dr. Nirav Shah to provide UMA Convocation Keynote". University of Maine at Augusta. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Nirav Shah, '07: JD/MD Impacts National, Global Public Health Regulation". The University of Chicago: The Law School. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Russell, Eric (10 April 2020). "'The adult in the room': CDC director is the face of Maine's coronavirus response". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b Carrigan, Don (8 March 2021). "Full interview: Don Carrigan sits down with Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah". NEWS CENTER Maine on YouTube. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b Ruppel, Ellen (16 October 2020). "How Straight Talk Helped One State Control COVID". Scientific American. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e Piper, Jessica (21 March 2020). "How a Coldplay-quoting doctor became the face of Maine's coronavirus response". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  10. ^ Pearson, Rick (26 March 2019). "Ex-state health director dismissed need to alert CDC early in Legionnaires' outbreak that eventually killed a dozen people: audit". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  11. ^ Vinicky, Amanda (9 January 2018). "Official: State's Response to Legionnaires' Outbreak 'Quick,' 'Decisive'". WTTW. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  12. ^ McKinney, Dave; Arnold, Tony (10 April 2020). "Illinois Will Pay Nearly $6.4 Million To The Families Of Vets Who Died In State Home". WBEZ Chicago. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Lawlor, Joe (19 June 2019). "New director of Maine CDC outlines priorities, starting with hiring". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  14. ^ a b c Rooks, Douglas (22 July 2020). "Maine CDC's Dr. Nirav Shah: 'Public policy is important, but what the public does is even more important'". Portland Phoenix. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  15. ^ Koenig, Paul (October 2020). "The Communicator In Chief". Maine. The magazine. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  16. ^ WGME (2020-09-03). "Maine CDC Director quotes Rick Astley in message on contact tracing". WGME. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  17. ^ Mannino, Gabrielle (22 June 2020). "The 'Shah Bar' is just as sweet as your favorite CDC director". NEWS CENTER Maine. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021.
  18. ^ a b Warner, Scott. "Eclectic Background Pays Off". Chicago Medical Society. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.

External links[]

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