It was now evident to key NIAID officials that Dr. Fishbein was becoming an all-around nuisance. He was professional, curious, incorruptible, and far too serious about performing his duties. “His big problem,” says Farber, “is that he thought his job was legit. Dr. Fishbein’s personal virtues were all fatal character flaws within the NIAID institutional culture.” Dr. Fishbein’s refusal to toe the line sent him stumbling into the terminal career cul-de-sac at NIAID.
