Director Fired After Meeting of AIDS Panel

The executive director of the President’s advisory commission on AIDS was fired after panel members complained to the chairman, Dr. W. Eugene Mayberry, that a lack of leadership undermined the commission’s first meeting here last week.

Mayberry on Friday asked for the resignation of Linda B. Sheaffer, several weeks ago named chief staff member of the commission. She will return to her job as acting director of the federal Office of Organ Transplantation.

In a statement Monday, Sheaffer said that Mayberry had “asked that I resign . . . because of internal disagreement in the commission that had nothing to do with my overall performance as executive director.”

Mayberry, who is chief executive officer of the Mayo Clinic, said Monday that he had “a great deal of admiration and respect” for Sheaffer but that “under the circumstances, it seemed best” that she step down.

Several commission members on Monday said that the group had told Mayberry they were worried because only half of a staff of 10 had been hired, and because Sheaffer lacked expertise about AIDS. Others said they were miffed because they learned about the agenda for a forthcoming meeting in the press.