Nirav D. Shah

Nirav Shah
Official portrait, 2023
Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In office
March 2023 – February 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Donald Trump
Preceded byRochelle Walensky
Succeeded byMandy Cohen
Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In office
July 1, 2023 – July 10, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byDebra Houry (acting)
Succeeded byDebra Houry (acting)
Ralph Abraham
Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health
In office
2015–2019
GovernorBruce Rauner
Preceded byLaMar Hasbrouck
Succeeded byNgozi Ezike
Personal details
BornNirav Dinesh Shah
1977 (age 48–49)
Wisconsin, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Louisville (BS)
University of Chicago (JD, MD)
WebsiteCampaign website

Nirav Dinesh Shah (born 1977) is an American epidemiologist, economist, attorney, and politician.

Shah worked as an economist and epidemiologist at the Cambodian Ministry of Health. He served as the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health from 2015 until 2019. During that time, Shah's handling of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in which 13 people died was heavily criticized, with both Illinois senators calling for his resignation. He served as the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to 2023, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] He was the principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2023 until 2025.[2][3][4][5][6] In 2025, Shah began to teach courses at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, in public health, epidemics and crisis communication.[7]

He ran for governor of Maine in the 2026 election as a Democrat but lost in the primary.[8][9] After 2026 U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner withdrew his candidacy, Shah launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate, but withdrew in favor of Troy Jackson after Jackson won a majority of convention delegates.[10][11]

Early life and education

Shah was born in 1977 in Wisconsin to Dinesh and Shaila Shah, Indian immigrants from Gujarat.[12][13][7][14] He grew up in Medford, Wisconsin.[15]

He then moved to Mayfield, Kentucky, when he was in junior high school.[13] He graduated valedictorian at Mayfield High School in Mayfield, Kentucky, in 1995. He attended the University of Louisville, where he majored in psychology and biology, receiving a B.S. in 1999.[13][12]

Shah then studied economics at Oxford for a year. Afterwards, he enrolled in medical school at the University of Chicago in 2000.[16][12][17] Shah completed his J.D. degree in 2007 and his M.D. in 2008, both from the University of Chicago, and was a recipient of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.[14][16][12]

Career

Cambodian Ministry of Health

In 2001, Shah accepted a Henry Luce Scholar fellowship in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, working for the Ministry of Health as an economist and epidemiologist. His work included outbreak investigation and management, studying the cost effectiveness of public health programs, efforts to curb the distribution of counterfeit drugs, and combatting corruption in the public health system. By the 2003 conclusion of his experience there, Shah was the chief economist at the Ministry.[1][12][16][17]

While in Cambodia, Shah aided the response to the SARS and Avian influenza outbreaks. In a March 2021 interview, he credited his experiences in Cambodia, as well as his ongoing communication with colleagues in Southeast Asia, with his ability to help prepare Maine for COVID-19 as its state CDC director, especially relating to the early procurement of personal protective equipment.[18][19]

At the conclusion of the fellowship, Shah returned to the University of Chicago where he continued to work with the Cambodian government. While completing both medical and law school, he regularly videoconferenced with colleagues in Southeast Asia and occasionally traveled back to Cambodia.[17]

Law career (2008–15)

Following medical school, Shah worked as a health care associate at the law firm Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago from 2008 to 2015.[14][13][1][17] He represented corporate healthcare and life sciences interests.[20] 

Illinois Department of Public Health (2015–18)

In 2015, Illinois governor Bruce Rauner appointed Shah director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).[14][1][13] During his tenure, Shah worked on initiatives combating the opioid crisis in Illinois, addressing childhood lead poisoning, and reducing maternal and infant mortality.[16]

Legionnaires' disease outbreak

In August 2015, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease resulted in 13 deaths and 74 infections at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy, Illinois.[21] Shah was heavily criticized for his response to the outbreak. A 2019 state audit report of the incident indicated that the state CDC did not visit the facility until the 12th day of the outbreak.[22][23] Although Shah maintained that the agency followed all federal guidelines and moved quickly, according to the State of Illinois Performance Audit:[24]

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) did not go on-site at Quincy Veterans’ Home until midday on Monday, August 24. That was nearly three days (approximately 67 hours) after the second case was confirmed late in the afternoon on August 21. The site visit focused on one building where the two confirmed cases were located.... During the 2015 outbreak, auditors determined that there was limited communication between IDPH and the Quincy Veterans' Home staff. IDPH officials often did not know the seriousness of the problem at the Quincy Veterans' Home.

Internal agency emails showed that the Illinois Department of Public Health waited six days to notify the public after confirming the outbreak.[25] The state audit also noted that Shah's department disregarded recommendations to immediately seek assistance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[26] Subsequent disclosures indicated that the IDPH was aware of a botched water system repair that had released a "broth of legionella" into the facility's hot water system, an event Shah described internally as a citable offense.[27] The department chose not to issue a citation or penalize the facility for the mistake.[28]

Shah also faced public backlash after internal emails were released showing him using language regarding a veteran's death that he later publicly apologized for and characterized as "insensitive"; he had framed a veteran's death as a public relations battle, stating the state needed a "rebuttal" to "save face publicly" following complaints from a victim's family, rather than focusing on the family's grief or safety concerns.[29] He later publicly apologized for and called his language "insensitive".[30]

Illinois' U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth called for Shah's resignation. They expressed three primary grievances: they said Shah sat on investigative findings, choosing to "deliberately withhold that information from the public" instead of issuing a prompt public health alert; that when Shah’s department found critical water system repair errors that violated state health codes, Shah acknowledged the violations internally but chose not to issue a formal citation to the facility; and alleged that Shah was "more focused on public perception" than intervening effectively."[31][32][33] But Shah remained in his position until Rauner lost his re-election bid in 2018.[1][21]

Aftermath

In October 2018, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan initiated a criminal investigation into Shah's department's handling of the fatal Legionnaires' disease outbreaks.[34][35] As part of the probe, an Adams County grand jury subpoenaed thousands of administrative records and emails from Shah's department to determine whether department leadership committed official misconduct or criminal negligence by delaying notifying families and the public for six days regarding the bacterial contamination.[34][35] The investigation concluded without any criminal charges or indictments being filed.[34][35]

However, the internal communications, state audits, and evidentiary findings compiled during the Attorney General's criminal investigation directly substantiated concurrent civil litigation, establishing that officials were internally aware of water-system repair failures but actively chose not to issue regulatory citations or prompt public warnings.[34] This evidentiary crossover eliminated the state's viable defenses. As a result, in April 2020, the State of Illinois resolved several wrongful death and negligence lawsuits by paying a $6.4 million civil settlement to compensate families of 11 deceased veterans and one visitor who died in the outbreak to legally resolve the liability surrounding the facility's management.[36][37]

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2019–22)

In June 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills appointed Shah as the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.[16] He immediately sought to fill more than 100 vacancies within the department.[14][21][38] A few weeks after he began, a group of more than 200 asylum seekers arrived in Portland, Maine, and were temporarily housed at the Portland Exposition Building. In his first public actions as CDC Director, Shah visited the facility, dispatched public health nurses to vaccinate the families and conduct health screenings, and worked with local healthcare providers to provide basic needs.[39][38]

Beginning March 9, 2020, Shah began delivering daily press conferences regarding the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Maine CDC's preparedness.[1] As the pandemic developed, Shah received praise for his communication style, delivering information using measured, detailed and simple answers, real-life examples, and effective metaphors devoid of scientific jargon.[1][14][39] For example, when asked to detail proper hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Shah explained “Wash your hands as if you have just sliced a bag of jalapeño peppers and now need to take out your contact lenses.”[21]

Shah embraced three principles for his regular briefings: Be truthful, answer questions directly, and "acknowledge the statistics and numbers without overlooking the human element."[19] Public health experts praised his enduring compassion[1][39] as he consistently reminded viewers that each case number and death represented a family member, friend and neighbor.[40] Shah also frequently included song lyrics and Dad jokes in an attempt to bring appropriate levity to his pandemic reports.[21][18][41]

Shah's communication style and public face led to a significant following throughout Maine: A "Fans of Dr. Nirav Shah" Facebook page reached over 35,000 members. Stickers, T-shirts and mugs with Shah's likeness and the slogan "In Shah We Trust" and "Keep Calm and Listen to Dr. Shah" were printed and sold to benefit local nonprofits.[14][13] Local confectioner Wilbur's of Maine produced "Shah bars" with his photo on the wrapper.[14][42]

Shah faced ethical and scientific criticism from public health researchers and some ethicists for implementing an age-based vaccine rollout that prioritized speed over targeting specific vulnerable populations, which critics argued delayed timely vaccine access for individuals with high-risk conditions such as Down syndrome, hematological cancers, severe obesity, or being the recipient of an organ donation —all of which are associated with a higher mortality rate.[43][44] According to several studies by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, particular disabilities and medical conditions put younger people at a greater risk for severe illness, according to experts.[44] The parent of a child with a pre-existing condition objected that he should have targeted specific vulnerable populations instead. Shah later said that his decision was based on data from other states which he said made clear to him that speed needed to be prioritized over everything else and he said that Maine's results proved his decision correct.[43][45]

In early 2021, Shah became President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), a position he held until the following year, and he prioritized states' preparation for COVID-19 vaccine rollouts nationwide.[14] [46]

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023–25)

Shah was the Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from March 2023 until February 2025.[3] He served as the acting director of the CDC for nine days in July 2023, during which week in that capacity he also served as the Acting Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.[47][4][5]

Colby College

Shah began teaching courses in the fall of 2025 in the Department of Statistics at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, on public health, epidemics and crisis communication.[7][48]

Politics

2026 gubernatorial campaign

Logo for Shah's gubernatorial campaign.

Shah announced a campaign for Governor of Maine in the 2026 election as a Democrat on October 20, 2025.[49][8] He received the most first-preference votes of any candidate in the Democratic primary, at 27%, but following the redistribution of votes under Maine's system of ranked-choice voting Shah lost to Hannah Pingree, who defeated him 56% to 44%.[9]

2026 U.S. Senate campaign

After 2026 U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner withdrew his candidacy, Shah launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate.[50] Democratic U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin of Illinois strongly opposed his candidacy.[51][52][53] Shah withdrew from the race on July 19 after Troy Jackson won a majority of delegates to the special nominating convention.[11]

Personal life

Shah and his wife Kara Palamountain, a research professor at Northwestern University in Illinois, are avid home cooks.[54][38] He speaks English, Khmer, Gujarati, and some Spanish.[13] Shah is a Jain.[55]

Electoral history

2026 Maine Democratic gubernatorial primary results[56]
Party Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4
Votes % Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes %
Democratic Hannah Pingree 50,552 23.3 +4,808 55,360 26.0 + 20,311 75,671 36.3 + 36,079 111,750 56.2
Democratic Nirav Shah 58,606 26.8 + 4,255 62,860 29.5 +9,821 72,681 34.8 + 14,269 86,950 43.8
Democratic Troy Jackson 45,959 21.1 + 1,638 47,597 22.3 + 12,413 60,010 28.8 - 60,010 Eliminated
Democratic Shenna Bellows 44,770 20.6 + 2,279 47,049 22.1 - 47,049 Eliminated
Democratic Angus King III 17,860 8.3 - 17,860 Eliminated
Continuing ballots 217,747 100.0 212,848 97.8 208,542 100.0 198,700 91.1
Exhausted ballots – + 4,881 4,881 2.2 + 4,504 9,385 4.3 + 9,662 19,047 8.9
Total votes 217,747 100.0 217,747 100.0 217,747 100.0 217,747 100.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Russell, Eric (April 10, 2020). "'The adult in the room': CDC director is the face of Maine's coronavirus response". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  2. ↑ St Pierre, Ariana (January 12, 2023). "Dr. Nirav Shah leaving Maine CDC to join U.S. CDC". WGME. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Principal Deputy Director". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 1, 2023. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "The CDC is getting a new leader as it seeks to remake itself after the pandemic". Government Executive. June 30, 2023. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "The CDC Director Walensky Leaves Deep Divides, Weary Staff for Successor to Heal". Bloomberg. June 30, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Nirav Shah, former head of Maine CDC, says he's stepping down from US CDC". Maine Public. February 18, 2025. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Keys, Bob (March 13, 2025). "Dr. Nirav Shah to Join Colby College Faculty". colby.edu. Archived from the original on July 29, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Miller, Kevin (October 20, 2025). "Former Maine CDC director, Dr. Nirav Shah, joins Democratic race for governor". Maine Public. Archived from the original on October 20, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Ohm, Rachel (June 19, 2026). "Hannah Pingree wins ranked-choice runoff in Democratic primary for governor". The Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on June 19, 2026. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  10. ↑ Burns, Christopher (July 9, 2026). "Nirav Shah is joining the race to replace Graham Platner after rape allegation". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Shah drops out of Senate race". WGME. July 19, 2026. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nirav Shah, 2005". P.D. Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Grunewald, Will (July 28, 2020). ""In Shah We Trust"". Down East. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Weixel, Nathaniel (March 9, 2021). "Guiding Maine through the pandemic". The Hill. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Nirav Shah, Son of Gujarati Immigrants, Could Be Democrats’ Best Bet to Flip Susan Collins’ Senate Seat ," Archived July 9, 2026, at the Wayback Machine American Kahani, July 2, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dr. Nirav Shah to provide UMA Convocation Keynote". University of Maine at Augusta. August 21, 2020. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Nirav Shah, '07: JD/MD Impacts National, Global Public Health Regulation". The University of Chicago: The Law School. April 5, 2016. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Carrigan, Don (March 8, 2021). "Full interview: Don Carrigan sits down with Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah". NEWS CENTER Maine on YouTube. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  19. 1 2 Ruppel, Ellen (October 16, 2020). "How Straight Talk Helped One State Control COVID". Scientific American. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  20. ↑ Shepherd, Michael (May 29, 2026). "A group that launched Zohran Mamdani is attacking Nirav Shah". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on June 12, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Piper, Jessica (March 21, 2020). "How a Coldplay-quoting doctor became the face of Maine's coronavirus response". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  22. ↑ 2019 State Audit Report on Outbreak Response (Report). State Government Printing Office. 2019. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Ex-state health director dismissed need to alert CDC early in Legionnaires’ outbreak that eventually killed a dozen people: audit," Archived July 14, 2026, at the Wayback Machine The Chicago Tribune, March 26, 2019.
  24. ↑ (19-Quincy-Legionnaires-Disease-Perf-Full.pdf)
  25. ↑ McKinney, Dave; Arnold, Tony (December 20, 2017). "Email Shows State Waited 6 Days To Publicize Legionnaires Outbreak". WBEZ. Archived from the original on July 11, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Litany of controversial decisions follows new CDC chief to Maine". The Maine Monitor. June 7, 2019. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  27. ↑ McKinney, Dave; Arnold, Tony (November 3, 2018). "Rauner's Health Officials Knew About Legionnaires' 'Broth' Mistake In Quincy, But Didn't Punish". WBEZ. Archived from the original on July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Litany of controversial decisions follows new CDC chief to Maine". The Maine Monitor. June 7, 2019. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  29. ↑ Arnold, Tony (March 7, 2018). "State Health Chief Calls His Email About Legionnaires' Death 'Insensitive'". WBEZ.
  30. ↑ Arnold, Tony (March 7, 2018). "State Health Chief Calls His Email About Legionnaires' Death 'Insensitive'". WBEZ.
  31. ↑ "Senators call for Illinois’ public health director to resign over VA facility’s Legionnaires’ outbreak ," Archived July 14, 2026, at the Wayback Machine Becker's Hospital Review, November 8, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Duckworth opposes candidate to replace Platner: ‘Maine deserves better’ ," The Hill, July 10, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Durbin, Duckworth Renew Call For Illinois Public Health Director Shah To Resign Over Botched Response To Legionnaires' Outbreak At IVH Quincy ," Archived July 10, 2026, at the Wayback Machine durbin.senate.gov, November 15, 2018.
  34. 1 2 3 4 McKinney, Dave; Arnold, Tony (November 3, 2018). "Rauner's Health Officials Knew About Legionnaires' 'Broth' Mistake In Quincy, But Didn't Punish". WBEZ. Archived from the original on July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  35. 1 2 3 "Litany of controversial decisions follows new CDC chief to Maine". The Maine Monitor. June 7, 2019. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  36. ↑ McKinney, Dave; Arnold, Tony (April 10, 2020). "Illinois Will Pay Nearly $6.4 Million To The Families Of Vets Who Died In State Home". WBEZ Chicago. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Illinois Dems trash former state public health chief who's now running for U.S. Senate in Maine". Chicago Sun-Times. July 10, 2026. Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  38. 1 2 3 Lawlor, Joe (June 19, 2019). "New director of Maine CDC outlines priorities, starting with hiring". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  39. 1 2 3 Rooks, Douglas (July 22, 2020). "Maine CDC's Dr. Nirav Shah: 'Public policy is important, but what the public does is even more important'". Portland Phoenix. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  40. ↑ Koenig, Paul (October 2020). "The Communicator In Chief". Maine. The magazine. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  41. ↑ WGME (September 3, 2020). "Maine CDC Director quotes Rick Astley in message on contact tracing". WGME. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  42. ↑ Mannino, Gabrielle (June 22, 2020). "The 'Shah Bar' is just as sweet as your favorite CDC director". News Center Maine. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020.
  43. 1 2 O'Brien, Andy (July 13, 2026). "How COVID-19 prepared Nirav Shah for the Maine governor's race". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  44. 1 2 "Age-based vaccine plan downplays risk to Mainers with chronic conditions, experts worry ," Archived July 14, 2026, at the Wayback Machine Bangor Daily News, March 3, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Nirav Shah offered solace during pandemic". Portland Press Herald. March 16, 2026. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Former ASTHO President Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD, Tapped as Principal Deputy Director for CDC". Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. January 12, 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Nirav Shah former head of Maine CDC says he's stepping down from US CDC". Maine Public. February 18, 2025. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  48. ↑ Marino, Jessica (March 13, 2025). "Nirav Shah will be joining Colby College". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Dr. Nirav Shah says he's considering run for Maine governor". Press Herald. August 15, 2025. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  50. ↑ Burns, Christopher (July 9, 2026). "Nirav Shah is joining the race to replace Graham Platner after rape allegation". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  51. ↑ Swai, Finya (July 10, 2026). "Duckworth opposes candidate to replace Platner: 'Maine deserves better'". The Hill. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Illinois Dems trash former state public health chief who's now seeking Senate bid: 'Maine deserves better'," Archived July 14, 2026, at the Wayback Machine Chicago Sun-Times, July 10, 2026.
  53. ↑ "Durbin joins Duckworth in opposing Maine’s Nirav Shah over 2015 disease outbreak," Archived July 16, 2026, at the Wayback Machine Washington Examiner, July 14, 2026.
  54. ↑ Warner, Scott. "Eclectic Background Pays Off". Chicago Medical Society. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  55. ↑ "Indian-origin epidemiologist Nirav Shah enters US Senate race in Maine after Democrat nominee quits". Firstpost. July 9, 2026. Archived from the original on July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Hannah Pingree wins ranked-choice runoff in Democratic primary for governor". The Portland Press Herald. June 19, 2026. Archived from the original on June 19, 2026. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
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