Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin conferred city honors on Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo this morning at the Birmingham City Council meeting as she leaves UAB to succeed Dr. Anthony Fauci.

“We have a rock star among us,” Woodfin said.

“Thank you again for all of your contributions in leading this country and really the world during the most significant health challenge that we’ve seen in a century,” said Council member Darrell O’Quinn.

Marrazzo choked back tears as she accepted a proclamation from the city. She will succeed Fauci this fall, leading the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and overseeing a budget of $6.3 billion to support research.

She has lead the division of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for seven years.

Woodfin called her a trusted advisor to the city as it passed emergency ordinances to shut down the city to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“She has demonstrated exemplary leadership,” Woodfin said. “She saved lives. That’s the biggest way I can say it.”

During the pandemic, the city relied on her expertise, he said.

“We needed guidance,” Woodfin said. “She served as a sounding board.”

Josh Carpenter, president and CEO of Southern Research Institute, where Marrazzo served on the board of directors, was on Woodfin’s staff as director of innovation and economic opportunity for the city when city leaders made the decision to pass emergency pandemic ordinances that essentially shut down public gatherings in March 2020.

“We really leaned on Dr. Marrazzo,” Carpenter said. “She counseled us to do something bold.”

“The city of Birmingham was the first city in Alabama to close down, and as a result, probably saved a lot of lives not only because of the decisions of Mayor Woodfin but of all of you,” Carpenter told the City Council. “That leadership was inspired by great advice.”

Marrazzo followed Woodfin and Carpenter to the podium to address the Birmingham City Council.

“I have to say that I’m humbled by this,” Marrazzo said. “I’m actually kind of emotional about it. I think about the pandemic and all the folks we lost.”

Marrazzo paused and choked back tears.

“It’s just an incredible honor,” she said. “My life has been changed by Birmingham. It’s just been a really amazing privilege to work with you all. I respect the work that you do, the work that you do here in this room is where the real work gets done. I’m fortunate enough to be out there representing you. That just really means the world to me.”

Her new job will take her to the main campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

“I will always consider Birmingham my second home,” Marrazzo said. “I hope to come back often, and I hope to see you all.”

“I really accept this honor on behalf of my incredible team, some of whom are here today,” she said. “Jo (Hofmann), my partner, actually came out of retirement as an infectious disease doc to help us run our Covid clinic. She actually got a license in the state of Alabama after purportedly retiring. My assistant, Rebekah Barnett, managed to get me everywhere I needed to be. Savannah Koplon, who’s here, many early 5 a.m. mornings during those first CNN opportunities. I would not have had the opportunities to be such a communicator if it were not for the media team at UAB. They are unbelievable. I can’t really thank you all enough for the courage you showed.”

See also: Who is Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo?