Dr. Fauci (see photo at left) is the Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAIDS), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has had a storied career, culminating most recently in his being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civil honor. The Presidential Medal of Freedom "recognizes outstanding individuals who have been leaders in their chosen fields, have led lives of vision and character, and have made especially meritorious contributions to our nation and the world." The June 19, 2008 citation reads: "As a physician, medical researcher, and public servant, Dr. Anthony Fauci has dedicated his life to expanding the horizons of human knowledge and making progress toward groundbreaking cures for diseases. His efforts to advance our understanding and treatment of HIV/AIDS have brought hope and healing to tens of millions in both developed and developing nations. The United States honors Anthony Fauci for his commitment to enabling men, women, and children to live longer, healthier lives."
For our part, SPS was honored to have Dr. Fauci visit us once again. Dr. Fauci spoke to us of his path to service in the field of health, beginning with his Brooklyn roots and education at a Jesuit High School in New York City, Regis High School. He joined the National Health Service during the Vietnam War, at a time when all graduating doctors were being drafted into the military or National Health Service, and has remained in the field of public health ever since.
Dr. Fauci spoke of how, in 1981, his colleagues counseled against his decision to retool his laboratory research to investigate a curious form of pneumonia afflicting a few dozen gay men--he was told "not to throw away a good career." Dr. Fauci persisted, and of course those few dozen cases were the leading edge of the worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic that has infected tens of millions. Through pictures and his words, Dr. Fauci traced how, with the interest of Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and President George H.W. Bush, he was able to help mobilize information and resources at the governmental level to work to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. Dr. Fauci traced his efforts through the Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama administrations, giving what amounted to a primer in how people of good will and conviction can set aside political differences in the interests of public health and science.
Most recently, Dr. Fauci's work on HIV/AIDS at NIH has focused on creation and coordination of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which in the past five years has reached millions of people in Africa and other developing regions throughout the world. Dr. Fauci also noted that the work of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is not confined to HIV/AIDS, but includes efforts to battle tuberculosis (a leading worldwide killer) and potential bioterrorism threats.
After his presentation, Dr. Fauci took questions from our SPS group on topics ranging from political issues surrounding appropriations for HIV/AIDS relief in Africa, to the demographics of HIV/AIDS infection in the U.S. today. The group went away with an appreciation for an often-overlooked arena of public service, and admiration for what Dr. Fauci has accomplished in the field.
