On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The two acronyms are used sometimes interchangeably in non-specialized literature. Fauci’s career is shaped by the AIDS epidemic in the US, which peaked in the 1980s and affected disproportionately the LGBTQIA+ community. Fauci’s research centered on finding a vaccine for AIDS, and later, when the trials for the vaccine showed that it was not effective, finding a combined treatment to mitigate the effects of the virus. Fauci also recounts how AIDS forced a transformative shift in public health policy and research, especially emphasizing the role of activists and the necessity of bridging scientific understanding with political action. Significantly, Fauci also recounts how an initially localized effort to combat and mitigate AIDS turned into a global health response, which continues to this day.

Hydroxychloroquine is a drug used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or malaria. In On Call, hydroxychloroquine is discussed as a drug that garnered widespread attention and controversy during the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly because it was recommended against Fauci’s and other professionals’ advice, for the treatment of COVID-19 by President Trump and others in his administration. Fauci emphasized publicly the need for rigorous clinical trials to verify any new drug’s safety and efficacy.

H1N1 is a virus causing what is commonly known as the swine flu. In Fauci’s memoir, the N1H1 2009 outbreak is described as a critical moment in the history of infectious disease response, where rapid vaccine development and distribution became essential to curb the virus’s spread. This experience emphasized to Fauci and the NIH the necessity of readiness and adaptability in responding to novel pathogens, shaping strategies later applied during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease that started in Wuhan, China in December 2019, then spread throughout the world in a global pandemic. In On Call, COVID-19 is depicted as a global crisis that redefined public health practices and strained healthcare systems worldwide. Fauci recounts the great challenges posed by the virus, from the rapid spread of misinformation to the urgency of vaccine development and distribution. The pandemic served as a defining chapter in Fauci’s career, as he became the leading public health figure, informing the public regarding measures of safety and prevention, developments of the crisis, and the government’s response.