U.S. President Barack Obama met with Ebola survivor Nina Pham at the White House, just hours after Pham was declared free of the virus and released from the hospital.

On Friday morning, the National Institute for Health announced Pham, the first person to contract Ebola in the United States, was no longer positive of Ebola. Shortly before noon, she was escorted out by medical staff at the NIH Clinical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, and immediately held a short press conference to thank those who helped her recover.

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She was expecting to meet her dog Bentley, who doctors said had also been declared free of any infection.

"I believe in the power of prayer because I know so many people all over the world have been praying for me," Pham said in a short statement before the media, just outside of the NIH facility. "Although I no longer have Ebola, I know that it may be a while before I have my strength back."

Pham particularly thanked Dr. Kent Brantly "for his selfless act" of donating plasma containing Ebola anti-bodies during treatment. Brantly contracted Ebola while working with a medical mission group in Liberia. He was flown to Atlanta for treatment in August and has recovered. 

After the press conference, Pham and her family motored to the White House and met with President Barack Obama, as the president was preparing to meet with officials involved the Ebola response.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the meeting was "an opportunity for the president to thank her for her service."

Pham is one of two nurses at the Texas Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas who helped care for Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian national who travelled to the U.S. from Liberia and died of the virus on October 8.

The other nurse, Amber Vinson, is being treated at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, and is reportedly making good progress.

TagsNina Pham, Barack Obama