Ever since she could remember, Ann Duerr wanted to be a scientist. She describes herself as a 'science fair whiz kid', and her knowledge and interest in the field continued to grow along with her. Following in her dad's footsteps, she stuck to that path even through college. She attended McGill University and graduated in the fall of 1974 with a Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry. She decided, as most post-graduates do, to take a trip overseas to experience a world unlike her own. Little did she know, but her path would be changed forever.
Post-Graduate Trip To Asia
During the trip, the now, Dr. Ann Duerr became aware of the unmet needs of people in the developing world. Because of these experiences, Dr. Ann Duerr committed her career to addressing health issues throughout the developing world. After completing her PhD in biologic sciences, she started studying parasitic diseases relevant to third world countries. She then turned to research with a greater focus on helping the third world. Ann Duerr completed her post doctorate work in Cairo and returned to the United States to work towards her M.D. at Harvard University. She completed her residency training at Harvard and Johns Hopkins.
Dr. Ann Duerr -- Fighting To Find A Vaccine For HIV
While she was at Johns Hopkins the importance of the growing AIDS epidemic for Africa became apparent. She made the switch from studying tropical diseases to studying AIDS. This pandemic would become the global infectious disease crisis of her lifetime, claiming the lives of more than 28 million people globally. She went to Rwanda to study mother-infant HIV transmission. Recruited from Hopkins to the CDC she oversaw a group studying HIV prevention in women and children. With 13 years of experience at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2003 Dr. Ann Duerr joined HIV Vaccine Trials Network in the search for an effective HIV vaccine. Over the years, she has extensively published within the field of biological and epidemiological determinants of HIV transmission and much more. Dr. Ann Duerr's work in the field has significantly contributed to the fight against HIV.
