Gloria Reuben Reflects, Dr. Faucci Takes Stock and ADAP Waiting Lists Lengthen
Over 15 years ago a petite but powerful actor stormed into stardom with her sensitive and authentic portrayal of Jeannie Boulet—the first (and to date only) HIV-positive television character to appear regularly on American television, NBC's award-winning series ER. In the process Gloria Reuben, the actor who played her, catapulted out of the television and into the real world as a committed and dynamic AIDS activist. In this issue we ask Gloria Reuben about her experience playing Boulet and her thoughts about the 30th anniversary of the epidemic.
We also run the Obama administration's message about the 30th anniversary of AIDS. You'll also find an article by the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Dr. Anthony Fauci and his chief of staff Gregory Folkers offering their perspectives on recent scientific breakthroughs that will soon constitute a new pharmaceutical toolkit to control and end the epidemic. They also discuss the vital need for governments to allocate sufficient financial resources to make this possibility a reality.
Tragically, ADAP waiting lists grow longer—they now total over 8000 people—even as science advances and the Obama administration implements its National HIV/AIDS Strategy emphasizing prevention and early treatment. Our friends at NAPWA provide their perspective on this public-health paradox. And we run an article from Kaiser Health News describing the inadvertent impact upon fellow Republicans of House budget committee chairman Paul Ryan's plan to privatize Medicare.
Yours in the struggle,
Phill