NBC News chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman announced her abrupt departure from the network on Thursday afternoon, stating that her violation of Ebola protocol in October 2014 has “contributed to my decision that now is the time to return to academic medicine.”
After “becoming part of the story upon my return to the U.S.” from covering the Ebola epidemic in Liberia, Snyderman revealed that “it is now time for me to return to my roots” with “a faculty position at a major U.S. medical school.”
In a statement, Snyderman asserted that she “loved my nine years at NBC and I am proud of the work my team has done” and “[e]very moment has been an honor.”
As readers may remember, Snyderman spent two months away from her position last year for violating the 21-day quarantine she was placed under after a cameraman she was traveling with in Africa contracted the virus.
When she returned on December 3, 2014, she apologized on Today “for not only scaring my community and the country, but adding to the confusion” by stepping “outside the boundaries of what I promised to do and what the public expected of me and for that, I'm sorry.”
Her apology came after originally deflecting responsibility in an October 13, 2014 statement shortly after the violation arose when she ventured out into her New Jersey neighborhood to get take-out.
In one of her final appearances on February 4, 2015, Snyderman came on NBC Nightly News and lectured about the importance of “public health” and “protect[ing] those who are less vulnerable in society.”
In addition to the announcement from Snyderman, an NBC News spokesperson also released a statement, praising her for having “provided her expertise on countless health and medical topics that are vitally important to our audience.”
The full statement from Dr. Nancy Snyderman can be found below.
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,. I will be shortly taking up a faculty position at a major U.S. medical school. 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.
I have loved my nine years at NBC and I am proud of the work my team has done. 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.
Here is the complete statement on Snyderman’s departure from the NBC News spokesperson:
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.
(h/t: The Wrap)
