She's moving on. Dr. Nancy Snyderman announced on Thursday, Mar. 12, that she's stepping down as NBC News' Chief Medical Editor. The decision comes just months after she violated an Ebola quarantine late last year.
"I stepped out of the OR a few years ago and it is now time for me to return to my roots, so I am stepping down from my position as Chief Medical Editor at NBC News. Covering the Ebola epidemic last fall in Liberia, and then becoming part of the story upon my return to the U.S., contributed to my decision that now is the time to return to academic medicine," Snyderman, 62, said in a statement to Us Weekly.
"I will be shortly taking up a faculty position at a major U.S. medical school," she continued. "More needs to be done to communicate medicine and science to our viewers and citizens, especially in times of crisis, and with my experiences in the field and on air, that is going to be a priority for me."
Dr. Snyderman became a headline herself when she covered the Ebola outbreak in Liberia back in October. At the time, she agreed to a 21-day quarantine once she returned to the U.S. after it was revealed that a photojournalist from her team had been diagnosed with the disease. She broke her word, however, when she was caught stepping out for fast food. She issued an apology in December.
"I have loved my nine years at NBC and I am proud of the work my team has done," the surgeon continued in her statement. "Very few people get the chance to combine two professions and I have appreciated the chance to inform the public about medical updates and the plight of so many in other countries. Every moment has been an honor."
An NBC news spokesperson adds: "Throughout her career with NBC News, Dr. Nancy Snyderman has provided her expertise on countless health and medical topics that are vitally important to our audience. She’s been a valuable voice both on air and in our newsroom, and we wish her all the best."
Dr. Snyderman has been a part of the NBC team since 2006. She previously worked at ABC as a medical correspondent for 15 years.
