Strauss Leaves NCCAM for NIH Advisor Post

BETHESDA, Md.—Stephen E. Straus, M.D., director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), has relinquished his leadership of NCCAM for health reasons, but will become senior advisor to the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. The first director of NCCAM (http://nccam.nih.gov), Strauss encouraged a comprehensive research enterprise by promoting the establishment of safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices, while upholding the rigorous standards of science for which the NIH is known.

Zerhouni praised Straus for his tremendous job in creating and leading NCCAM. “His total dedication, superb intelligence, extraordinary vision, high energy and singular wit are all qualities that make him an extraordinary leader,” Zerhouni said. “Steve has been one of my most trusted advisors, and I will continue to rely on his experience and perspective.” Zerhouni named Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D., former acting director of NIH, to be the acting director of NCCAM. Kirschstein has also served as the director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.