Dr. Natalie Azar and Alex Azar are both prominent figures in the field of health and medicine. Dr. Natalie Azar is a clinical professor, medical expert, writer, and medical contributor for NBC News. Alex Azar is a former attorney, businessman, lobbyist, and pharmaceutical executive who served as the United States secretary of health and human services from 2018 to 2021. Given their similar last names and backgrounds, some people may wonder if they are related to each other. In this article, we will explore the truth behind this rumor and reveal the facts about their family histories.
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The Origin of the Azar Surname
The surname Azar is derived from the Persian word for “fire” or “flame”. It is also a common given name in Iran and other countries with Persian influence. The name may have been adopted by some Jewish families who lived in Persia or neighboring regions. According to Ancestry.com, the Azar surname is most prevalent in Iran, followed by Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey.
The Family History of Dr. Natalie Azar
Dr. Natalie Azar was born on April 9, 1970, in Pennsylvania, to Lynda (Zarisky) and Alex Michael Azar Sr. Her father was a renowned ophthalmologist who practiced in Salisbury, Maryland, for more than 30 years, and taught at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He passed away in 2014, at the age of 88. Her mother is a retired nurse who worked with her father at his practice.
Dr. Natalie Azar has one sister, Michele, who is also a physician. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1992 and from Cornell University Medical College in 1996. She completed her residency and fellowship in rheumatology at NYU/Bellevue Hospitals Center and NYU/Hospital for Joint Diseases. She currently works as an assistant clinical professor of medicine and rheumatology at NYU Langone Medical Center and as a medical contributor for NBC News.
Dr. Natalie Azar is married to Michael Stephen Hubner, an attorney. They have two children, Lucas and Darby. They live in New York with their family dog.
The Family History of Alex Azar
Alex Azar was born on June 17, 1967, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to Lynda (Zarisky) and Alex Michael Azar Sr. His father was an ophthalmologist who practiced in Salisbury, Maryland, for more than 30 years, and taught at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He passed away in 2014, at the age of 88. His mother is a retired nurse who worked with his father at his practice.
Alex Azar has one brother, John, who is a dentist. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1988 and from Yale Law School in 1991. He began his career as a legal clerk for conservative judges and then served as a deputy secretary of health and human services under President George W. Bush. He later became the president of the U.S. division of Eli Lilly and Company, a major drug company. He was appointed as the secretary of health and human services by President Donald Trump in 2018 and resigned in 2021.
Alex Azar is married to Jennifer Reist, a former pharmaceutical sales representative. They have two children, Claire and Alex III. They live in Indiana.
The Conclusion: Are They Related?
Based on the available information, it seems that Dr. Natalie Azar and Alex Azar are not related to each other by blood or marriage. They share the same surname because their fathers were both named Alex Michael Azar Sr., but they were not the same person. Their fathers had different middle names (Eileen and Michael) and different dates of birth (1936 and 1926). Their fathers also had different origins: Dr. Natalie Azar’s grandfather emigrated from Lebanon, while Alex Azar’s grandfather emigrated from Iran.
Therefore, we can conclude that Dr. Natalie Azar and Alex Azar are not related to each other, but they do have some coincidental similarities in their names and careers.
