Kent State University’s College of Public Health welcomed a special guest this year: Harry Haverkos, M.D., a renowned infectious disease specialist whose work helped shape the early response to the AIDS epidemic. His visit included a presentation on his book “Inside the AIDS Fight: Memoir of an Epidemiologist at the Pandemic Front Lines,” and a heartfelt interview reflecting on his career, his late wife Lynne (Janecek) Haverkos, ’73, and a scholarship honoring their shared legacy.
Harry shared his journey from internal medicine to epidemiology, detailing his early work with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) during the emergence of HIV/AIDS. He discussed groundbreaking surveillance studies in major U.S. cities and the complex factors contributing to the disease’s progression - including drug use, sexual behavior and social determinants of health.
He describes his journey in his book, “Inside the AIDS Fight: Memoir of an Epidemiologist at the Pandemic Front Lines,” including his first encounter with an AIDS patient in 1980, the emergence of AIDS, its history and more.
“This book is my last hurrah,” said Harry. “This is my last attempt to get this information out there.”
In a one-on-one interview, Harry offered advice to public health students.
“Let’s be creative. Let’s be scientific,” said Harry. “Let’s think about [problems] and not let our biases influence what we look for and what we see.”
Harry emphasized the importance of clinical training and keeping an open mind when tackling today’s public health challenges.
His return to Kent State was deeply personal. Lynne, his late wife, attended the university in the early 1970s and pursued a double major in Biology and Chemistry. The couple shared fond memories of campus life at the Medical College of Ohio (now known as the Medical University of Ohio) in Toledo, Ohio. Lynne earned her M.D. from the Medical College in 1976, and her Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981. Lynne passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in 2023. In her honor, Harry helped establish a scholarship to support public health students at Kent State - especially those from rural communities, like Lynne.
“I want people from a small town to get the opportunity that some of us in the big city seem to take for granted,” Harry said. “Maybe we can get some students down the road to get into this area who wouldn't be able to afford to otherwise.”
Harry’s visit was a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have on public health — and the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders. If you would like to support the Drs. Lynne and Harry Haverkos Public Health Scholarship and positively impact the future of College of Public Health students at Kent State, you can .