You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

We're going to take you back, back to the summer of 2009.

A lot happened then.

The black-eyed Peas Boom Boom Power was top of the charts.

We were coming out of the recession.

In an office in Bethesda, Maryland, Francis Collins took office as head of the National Institutes

of Health.

From high-throughput technologies such as nanotechnology, chemistry, imaging, genomics.

And Collins has been there ever since as the NIH's longest serving director.

And after 12 years working under three presidents, he is stepping down at the end of this year.

But not before reflecting on his tenure with my colleague, Selina Simmons-Duffin.

Hey, Selina.

Hi, Emily.

So you interviewed Francis Collins before we listen to that conversation.

Let's talk about the guy.

Tell me about him.

Well, Collins is 71. He's a physician and a geneticist.

And he's really known as a political bridge builder.

He's really charismatic and likable.

He famously rides hurries.

He's a Christian who's written about being a man of science and a man of faith.

He has got a lot of fans.

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