Inside the AIDS Fight

Dr. Harry W. Haverkos had his first encounter with an AIDS patient in 1980. Three years later, he challenged the widely accepted belief that the sole cause of AIDS was HIV, proposing that factors like nitrite inhalants and cytomegalovirus also played a role in AIDS progression. In his investigations of the disease with the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service, the US Public Health Service, and the US Department of Health and Human Services, his research allowed for the implementation of preventative measures against the transmission of HIV and AIDS. Dr. Haverkos' work not only achieved medical advancements but also profoundly affected the AIDS pandemic; his research and collaborations with other medical professionals impacted health policy, medical research, legal and judicial perceptions, and patient self-advocacy. This memoir follows Dr. Haverkos' career and contributions to our modern understanding of the AIDS pandemic. In it, Dr. Haverkos advocates for a broader understanding of AIDS and a nuanced perspective on infectious diseases, inviting us to rethink preconceived notions and cultivate a more comprehensive view of this global health challenge.

Harry W. Haverkos, M.D., a retired Captain of the U.S. Public Health Service, is a physician with expertise in internal medicine and infectious diseases. His impactful contributions to combatting the AIDS pandemic span across various government health agencies, notably including the CDC, NIH, and FDA. He lives in Rockville, Maryland.