Elias Adam Zerhouni, born on the 1st of April 1951, is an Algerian-American radiologist, who became known as the 15th director of the US National Institute of Health, a position he held from 2002 to 2008.
So how much is Zerhouni’s net worth? As of late 2017, based on authoritative sources it is reported to be close to $1 million, acquired from his years working in the medical field in both the private and public sectors.
Elias Zerhouni Net Worth $1 Million
Born in Nedroma, Algeria, he came from a big family with seven siblings. He spent his early years in a small village in western Algeria, until his family moved to the city of Algiers where he studied in college. He was initially studying Algerian and French baccalaureates, and then decided to attend the University of Algiers, School of Medicine and pursued a degree in radiology.
After graduating in 1975, Zerhouni moved to the US and started his professional career as a resident radiologist at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. After three years he became chief resident and joined the school’s faculty. His early years in the medical field helped his career, and also his net worth.
In 1981, Zerhouni moved to a new school and became the vice-chairman of the radiology department of Eastern Virginia Medical School, but after four years, in 1985 he decided to return to John Hopkins, as a co-director the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) division. That same year, his career in public office started, when the White House asked him to serve as a consultant.
After Zerhouni started working for the White House under then President Ronald Reagan, he was eventually invited by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be their consultant in 1988. His time in the White House and WHO signalled the beginning of his career in public service, and also helped raise his wealth.
Zerhouni went back to John Hopkins in 1992, and became the chairman of radiology. Eventually he became the school’s executive vice dean in 1996, and later became a member of Institute of Medicine in 2000.
Subsequently Zerhouni was asked again by the government for his help. This time former President George W. Bush asked him in 2002 to be the director of the National Institute of Health, or NIH. During his time at there, he helped pass the NIH Reform Act of 2006, which initiated the funding stream called HIM Common Fund. He also led efforts to change the NIH peer review system, and spearheaded policies that help new researchers with fresh ideas through various NIH programs. In 2008 he decided to step down from the NIH, which made him known in public office and in the medical field, and increased his net worth too.
In 2009, Zerhouni went back to public office and became one of the first presidential envoys of the country under the Obama Administration, being tasked to foster scientific and technologic collaboration with other countries. He also worked with Bill and Melinda Gates through the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation from 2009 through 2010.
Today, Zerhouni is still active in the medical field. He’s currently serving as the Global Head of Research and Development of Sanofi in 2011.
In his personal life, Elias is married to pediatrician Nadia Azza, and they have three children.
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