May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We must thank our AAPI frontline workers for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that this is a healthcare-related website, we should also recognize the work of the 1.4 million AAPI healthcare essential healthcare employees [1]. Although 1.4 million may seem like a small number compared to the total number of healthcare workers, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are over-represented in healthcare. 8.5 percent of healthcare workers are AAPI while AAPI make up only 6.8 percent of the U.S. population. In honor of AAPI heritage month, let’s learn about the work of Dr. Katherine Luzuriaga, a Filipino-American scientist [2].
Dr. Luzuriaga is professor of molecular medicine, pediatrics, and medicine and vice provost for clinical and translational research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has been at the forefront of HIV research for decades, serving on Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s Children’s Research Fund Advisory Committee, as a consultant to the World Health Organization on the Guidelines for the Diagnosis of HIV Infection in Children, and as a member to many more HIV- and AIDS-related organizations [3]. Her work with HIV has drastically changed many futures.
HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the immune system. HIV can be spread through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk, meaning it is often spread through sexual activity or the sharing of needles. Once the virus is contracted, there is no cure, but it is important to manage the virus so that it does not develop into AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [3]. When a person has AIDS, their immune system is extremely compromised, making the person very susceptible to infections. When left untreated, HIV (which would later develop into AIDS) is life threatening and reduces life expectancy because of vulnerability to illness. This is why it is important to get tested for HIV if you suspect you may have contracted the virus.
Because of the nature of HIV, when an HIV-positive mother is pregnant, it was generally assumed that the baby would be born with HIV and have the virus their entire life. The work of Dr. Luzuriaga and her team changed this. They worked on a cure for HIV-infected infants. Her team cared for a baby who was born with HIV. They immediately started the baby on antiretroviral treatment, and continued the treatment for 18 months [4]. Usually, the antiretroviral treatment is administered for six weeks after infection with HIV and followed up with therapeutic doses as necessary. The aggressive approach taken with the baby was successful; the child did not test positive for HIV or HIV antibodies. The results of this approach suggest a possible cure for infants infected with HIV, a conclusion of extreme significance. In 2013, Dr. Luzuriaga was named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people for her work [5]. Thank you Dr. Luzuriaga for changing the lives of so many children.