Organization: Alexander von Humboldt Tropical Medicine Institute
Region: Latin America and Caribbean
Nationality: Peru
Country: United States
Interests & expertise: Co-infections (TB, hepatitis, STIs, etc.)
Profession or occupation: Healthcare worker/social service provider
What inspires you to work in the HIV field?
At medical school, I had the opportunity to make rotations on the ID floor for both paediatric and adult patients. Watching these children, young women and men dying due to AIDS in the 21st century made me realize that new generations like mine need to continue the work that has been done until now.
What are your goals as an IAS change maker?
I am a medical practitioner specializing in global health with a focus on HIV research. I would like to create sustainable HIV care and prevention programmes at national level that will reduce HIV rates in my region and reach zero deaths, especially among young populations. These could function as models to be replicated in other types of diseases (like TB or NCDs) to strengthen health systems in general.