In 2020, Dr. Anthony Fauci - then Director of the NIAID under the NIH - dismissed The Great Barrington Declaration (coauthored by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya) as "nonsense" and "very dangerous." In leaked emails, 2020 NIH Director Francis Collins referred to Dr. Bhattacharya as a "fringe epidemiologist." In 2025, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was named Director of the NIH. [ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 11/24/2021] Stanford professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya unexpectedly became a public figure in 2021 after coauthoring the Great Barrington Declaration: an open letter that called for calm amidst a media-induced panic surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Though it put his career and professional reputation at risk, Dr. Bhattacharya insisted -- based on his experience as a Stanford professor and decades as a health economist -- that lockdowns and school closures would cause significantly more harm than good. Following years of intense government pressure to censor his social media (confirmed by evidence in Elon Musk's Twitter Files, which named him specifically as a target for suppression) Dr. Bhattacharya became a star in the aftermath of the pandemic and was celebrated for his dedication to truth and science when it mattered most. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was later confirmed as the 18th Director of the National Institutes Of Health. 「 IMPORTANT 」 This program is a rebroadcast of a previously aired episode. Some of its contents may be outdated. The host's views on health topics or the safety of certain medical interventions may have evolved since the original broadcast, based on new information that was unavailable at the time. This program is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a professional before making any decisions about your health, finances, or legal matters. The opinions expressed by guests may not reflect the views of this program, its producers, or this platform. 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at https://drdrew.com/sponsors • ACTIVE SKIN REPAIR - Repair skin faster with more of the molecule your body creates naturally! Hypochlorous (HOCl) is produced by white blood cells to support healing – and no sting. Get 20% off at https://drdrew.com/skinrepair • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. Get 15% off your first order at https://drdrew.com/paleovalley • FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at https://drdrew.com/fatty15 • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Be prepared for the next crisis with a Medical Emergency Kit. Learn more at https://twc.health/drew 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (https://kalebnation.com) and Susan Pinsky (https://x.com/firstladyoflove). 「 ABOUT DR. DREW 」 Dr. Drew is a board-certified physician with over 35 years of national radio shows, NYT bestselling books, and countless TV shows bearing his name. He's known for Celebrity Rehab (VH1), Teen Mom OG (MTV), The Masked Singer (FOX), multiple hit podcasts, and the iconic Loveline radio show. Dr. Drew Pinsky received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his M.D. from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine. Read more at https://drdrew.com/about