Former CDC Official To Lead NYC LGBTQ Health Center

Just in via press release:

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, recent 2025 Community Health Awards honoree, is joining Callen-Lorde as our Chief Medical Officer! Demetre (he/him) steps into the role as our former CMO, Dr. Nejat Zeyneloglu, departs after an invaluable time at Callen-Lorde. We thank Nejat for his exemplary service to our patients and community.

Demetre has a wealth of experience that will help him guide Callen-Lorde through new clinical initiatives and challenges while remaining steadfast to our mission to care for our communities regardless of ability to pay. His passion and experience make him particularly suited for this new role—and he has a deep connection to Callen-Lorde. He first encountered our clinics in 1997 while on rotations as an NYU medical student; and more than 25 years later Callen-Lorde honored him at this year’s Community Health Awards.

“At Callen-Lorde, I learned the true meaning of service: to uplift and protect the very community I hold most dear. I witnessed a safe space based in science, a mission lifted by and for community,” Demetre said.

Demetre established himself as a prominent infectious disease physician and researcher during posts at the NYU School of Medicine/Bellevue Hospital and Icahn School of Medicine/Mount Sinai early in his career before moving to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2014.

He first worked as the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and ultimately became the Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Disease Control. In 2021 he went to work in several positions at the CDC, eventually becoming the director of its National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; he also spent one year at the White House where he led the nation’s mpox response. His accomplishments are numerous.

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him into our community on February 23. His appointment represents a new era for Callen-Lorde: One where we can reach new people who need our care, innovate new ways to advance health equity and raise our profile even higher.

Read the full press release. Daskalakis resigned from the CDC in August after Sec. Felcher moved to limit access to COVID vaccines and ousted the CDC’s director. He appeared here in September when he accused Sec. Felcher of lying to Congress in his testimony. Watch his video below.

Former top CDC official to join Callen-Lorde as chief medical officer https://t.co/OwJf0jWuhO

— LGBTI+ News (@lgbtiplusnews) December 6, 2025

@callenlordeLast week, we shared the exciting news that Dr. Demetre Daskalakis will be joining Callen-Lorde as our new Chief Medical Officer. Today, we’re here to reintroduce Demetre, in his own words and en route to Callen-Lorde. Welcome home, Demetre. “Let’s get to work”.♬ original sound – Callen-Lorde

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