Dr. Elias Zerhouni Reminds Us Why 'Disease Knows No Politics'

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KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 4 August 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Dr. Elias Zerhouni’s journey began in Algeria, where he taught himself mathematics as bombs fell outside his window. With two suitcases and a few hundred dollars, his family eventually immigrated to the United States. Driven by an unshakable belief in science and service, Zerhouni rose through the ranks of medical research to become director of the National Institutes of Health under President George W. Bush. In his new memoir, “Disease Knows No Politics,” he reflects on his personal journey and the fierce political battles he faced while leading the NIH. He joins us to discuss the vital contributions of immigrants to American innovation and the urgent need to safeguard science from partisanship. Guests: Dr. Elias Zerhouni, former director, National Institute of Health; professor emeritus, Johns Hopkins University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:21.5	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Leslie McClurg. I'm in today for Mina Kim.
1:23.4	Coming up on forum, Dr. Elias Zerhouni's journey began in Algeria, where he taught himself mathematics as bombs fell outside.
1:31.3	With two suitcases and a few hundred dollars, his family eventually immigrated to the United States.
1:36.3	Zerhouni rose through the ranks of medical research to become director of the National Institutes of Health under President George W. Bush.
1:45.0	In his new memoir, Disease Knows No Politics. He reflects on his personal journey
	...

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