‘The Methuselah of Bldg. 1’
Meet NIH’s Chief of Staff
Have you seen this man around campus? It’s likely. He can often be spotted accompanying NIH leaders to meetings and events.
For 25 years, John Burklow has been an indispensable part of communications and planning at NIH. Most recently, after nearly three years as acting chief, Burklow was appointed as the permanent chief of staff to the NIH director in December 2023.
“I am so very lucky to have John in the chief of staff role,” said NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli. “He has a comprehensive knowledge of how NIH works, and he thinks about how to serve not just the Office of the Director, but all of NIH. And, he’s a master at the three-dimensional chess that is sometimes required to accomplish important work.”
Burklow came to NIH 38 years ago as an intern in the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) communications office. “I thought I’d stay six months,” he said.
An opportunity early on shaped his career path. Burklow became deputy to the late Paul van Nevel, who headed cancer communications. “That’s where I learned more about the world of media and public affairs,” Burklow recounted. “Paul was so talented and fun to work for, and he always had bold ideas.”
In 1999, Burklow began climbing the communications ladder when he became deputy associate director of communications in the NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL). When the head of OCPL left in 2002, he became acting associate director for communications. But when then-NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni made that job a senior executive service position, Burklow found himself competing with several communications bigwigs across government.
“I thought, ‘Wow, he’s really trying to find somebody else,’” Burklow quipped. “But I was happy that he selected me.”
Photo: Marleen Van Den Neste
Ever since, it’s been a whirlwind of managing all kinds of issues big and small, while delicately balancing competing personalities and priorities. The Zerhouni years prepared Burklow well. Together, they navigated a lengthy conflicts-of-interest controversy, which eventually paved the way for the robust ethics program at NIH today. They also navigated proposed restrictions on stem cell research.
By the time Dr. Francis Collins became NIH director in 2009, Burklow was well-seasoned at coping with complex issues.
In that first month alone, Collins made a music video with the guitarist of Aerosmith, appeared on Stephen Colbert’s show, had articles appear in Science and Parade, welcomed President Barack Obama to campus and hosted a Town Hall. “It just sped up from there,” remembered Burklow.
The job has repeatedly tested Burklow’s ability to come through in a pinch. Burklow recalled one instance in 2013 while en route to The Colbert Report studio, where Collins was set to talk about the BRAIN Initiative. Burklow had to scramble for footage of somebody’s—anybody’s—brain waves. Colbert would wear an EEG cap and expected to show his audience what brain waves look like. Burklow understood the power of a visual reference and came through.
A year later, on the day His Holiness the Dalai Lama was set to give a lecture on campus with no seats to spare, Burklow was asked if he could accommodate 800 Tibetans who traveled from New York to witness the event.
“I had 90 minutes before they were going to arrive,” he said. “I called for all hands on deck and we made it happen.” The Tibetans met with His Holiness, entering and exiting from one side of the Natcher Conference Center, while nearly 1,000 NIH’ers entered the auditorium from the opposite side.
“The Dalai Lama is considered a supreme being on Earth,” said Burklow, who was grateful to accommodate their visit. “It was quite important for the Tibetans to feel his presence.”
Burklow said his busiest, most challenging year was 2020. As communications director during the first year of the pandemic, he and his team were immersed in internal and external communications seemingly around the clock, while dealing with all the changes that come during an election.
“I look at the job as anything and everything,” he said, “whatever needs to be done. No job is too big or too small. And, since I’m the Methuselah of Bldg. 1, I can draw on my experience and offer my opinion on various issues.”
Every day, Burklow works closely with Bertagnolli to help achieve her priorities. Staff from the Immediate Office of the Director, the Ombuds and Executive Secretariat offices all report to him. A typical day—if there is such a thing—involves working with people from all functions and ranks across NIH, from communications to legislative, intramural to extramural, facilities to IT.
Through the ups and downs, Burklow finds his job endlessly rewarding. “You feel like you’re helping to advance the mission of NIH and that’s what’s kept me here for 38 years,” he said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and what we’re trying to achieve.”