Past the Lab

IN PROGRESS

At VHS, I had the opportunity to speak to the Chief Medical Officer of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Kumaraswamy, on his experience developing and promoting HIV Antiretroviral therapy in India and dealing with the TB burden there, as well as how he’s collaborated on research with universities and institutions within the United States, including the NIH. 

I also had the opportunity to shadow their counselor service, which was nothing like anything I had seen (in a positive sense). The counselors are non-medical staff trained in psychiatry to help patients before they see a doctor. They help clarify treatment options, explain financial estimates, and provide emotional support, ensuring that patients understand their care pathway before meeting a doctor. They try to minimize the stigmatization of certain diseases such as HIV. They also are strict with following up on patient adherence to medicine and offer other services such as staying in their nearby De-Addiction ward to address issues like smoking, which increase risk of TB (often follows HIV diagnosis). 

It took a long time for me to be diagnosed with Salmonella Typhi in the U.S. and put on the correct antibiotic regimen. I couldn’t help but wonder if my treatment would have been more efficient in a country much more familiar with dealing with high burdens of Tuberculosis, Typhoid fever, Dengue, and other diseases that U.S. hospitals see much more rarely. They also seemed to care a lot about taking preventative measures in stopping the spread of these diseases, which happens quickly in lower-income communities with less access to clean food and water. 

I’ve been thinking about this experience while preparing for my Wadsworth Department of Health Internship—my time at VHS was striking in placing this lab work in the global health sphere.