A moving ceremony was held on Tuesday morning to recognize and celebrate the outstanding epidemiology career of CDC's Steve Thacker. The beloved epidemiologist, who was recently diagnosed with the rapidly progressive and always fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, served at CDC in multiple high level positions including stewardship of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) program and the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

He was a colleague and mentor to hundreds of established and budding epidemiologists around the world. Last week Thacker received the Surgeon General's medallion which is the highest award of the Public Health Service and two awards are being created at CDC in his name. At the CDC ceremony, CDC Director Tom Frieden stated simply that much of what CDC is today comes from Steve's work. As one colleague put it most simply and eloquently, Steve has been a "pillar" of CDC.

For a sampling of the hundreds of testimonials from colleagues sent to his family at their website, click below.
 http://www.teamthacker.com/guestbook/