CDC chief resigns over tobacco investments

The head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resigned Wednesday amid mounting questions about financial conflicts of interest (Source: “CDC director who traded tobacco stock resigns,” Politico, Jan. 31, 2018).

Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald's resignation comes one day after Politico reported that one month into her tenure as CDC director, she bought shares in a tobacco company. Fitzgerald had long championed efforts to cut tobacco use, which is the leading cause of preventable death.

Fitzgerald, a doctor and former Georgia Department of Public Health commissioner, assumed leadership of the agency in July and was close to former HHS Secretary Tom Price, who resigned in September after Politico reported his use of private jets. 

HHS Secretary Alex Azar, who was sworn in two days ago, accepted Fitzgerald's resignation early Wednesday morning, according to a statement released by the agency.

An internal CDC email, shared with Politico, said the agency's principal deputy director, Anne Schuchat, will assume the role of acting director immediately.