Former CDC vaccines head Demetre Daskalakis appointed chief medical officer at NYC LGBTQ+ health center

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, previously the head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, is set to become the chief medical officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, starting February. Callen-Lorde is a leading provider of health services for the LGBTQ+ community.

Daskalakis, who resigned from the CDC in August with a strongly worded letter following the removal of CDC director Susan Monarez by the Trump administration, emphasized that New York City is his professional home. In a statement about his new role, he said, My primary goal is to ensure that all members of the LGBTQ+ community have access to a reliable medical home. He described Callen-Lorde as the natural place to pursue that mission.

This appointment coincides with changes in city leadership. Both Daskalakis and Callen-Lorde CEO Patrick McGovern have been named to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdanis Transition Committee on Health, highlighting the administrations focus on LGBTQ+ equity in public health.

Callen-Lordes 2024 report showed the center served over 22,000 patients in roughly 156,000 visits, with more than a third identifying as transgender or nonbinary. Kimberleigh Joy Smith, the centers executive vice president of public policy and communications, emphasized that patients increasingly turn to Callen-Lorde for consistency and care amid a volatile national environment. She added that 2026 offers a chance to advance efforts to end the HIV epidemic, especially with new tools like twice-yearly injectable PrEP.

McGovern praised Daskalakis for his track record and commitment to evidence-based practice. Demetre follows the science, and so does Callen-Lorde. He has a history of achieving results for our communities, making this partnership timely and crucial, he said.

In interviews, Daskalakis reflected on his departure from the CDC, noting that federal hostility toward transgender people could be misinterpreted as indifference from healthcare providers. He urged the LGBTQ+ community to unite in defending rights and addressing health needs, stressing that visibility and pride are key tools against attempts to silence marginalized voices.

Author: Chloe Ramirez