Maine’s former top public health official has left a high-level federal post.

Dr. Nirav Shah served as principal deputy director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for roughly two years. His last day was Friday, Shah wrote on “X,” the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Before that, Shah directed the Maine CDC. He gained near-celebrity status for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing the voice and face of pandemic news in Maine.

He held news conferences several times per week during 2020 and 2021. Thousands of Mainers would tune into the conferences to watch Shah answer questions from reporters (often with pop cultural references and while chugging a Diet Coke).

Shah was appointed to the CDC position in January 2023.

He did not elaborate on social media as to why he’s leaving or where he’s going next.

“CDC faces a period of change, as we have throughout history,” he wrote. “But even with these challenges, one thing will remain unchanged: the agency will continue to consist of the finest team of public health professionals ever assembled.”