 Lurie is also a rear admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service.Lurie was also appointed to oversee the federal response to the Flint water crisis.While serving as assistant secretary at HHS, Lurie also practiced medicine at the Bread for the City clinic in Washington, D.C.

Lurie was elected to the council of the Society of General Internal Medicine in 1987, and was president of the society from 1997-1998.