Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, Chief of Division of Infectious Disease at Harlem Hospital

Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Harlem Hospital Center was named one of the 2008 MacArthur Fellows by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Dr. El-Sadr, who has been a physician at Harlem Hospital since 1989, is a global leader in the field of infectious disease and public health. She has pioneered a multi-faceted, family-focused approach to treating HIV / AIDS and tuberculosis (TB), diseases that disproportionately afflict people with the least access to care. Through her work developing effective programs in impoverished and immigrant communities in Harlem, as well as in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, she sets ever-improved standards for health care delivery for patients facing devastating disease under severe economic hardship.

"Wafaa El-Sadr is an extraordinary person - compassionate, creative and committed to her patients - like many of the fine physicians we are privileged to have working in the public healthcare system," remarked Alan D. Aviles, president of the NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation. "This award not only honors Dr. El-Sadr and her work, it honors us all."

Dr. El-Sadr's contributions to treatment for HIV / AIDS and TB include the development of comprehensive care systems, effective outreach strategies, creative educational programs and rigorous research studies. She has led investigations of preventive measures as well as behavioral factors. Treatment strategies are developed by considering the patient's access to healthcare, education, social status and economic stressors. She is also recognized internationally for her leadership in preventing maternal-child HIV transmission.

The MacArthur Fellows were awarded to 25 individuals selected for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future. These talented individuals, in a variety of fields, have shown originality in and dedication to their creative pursuits. They receive $500,000 grants, often called "genius grants," that are bestowed with no conditions.