The series’ creation comes from a gift of $100,000 from William Yarber, IU professor of applied health science and adjunct professor in gender studies, according to the press release.
Ryan White was an Indiana native who contracted HIV at the age of 13 from a blood transfusion, according to the press release. White became the poster child for HIV/AIDS because of this and was expelled from his school for having the disease, according to the press release.
Because of his disease, White died approximately 25 years ago.
Today, the single largest federal program for people with HIV is named the Ryan White Care Act in honor of his memory, according to the press ?release.
The series is also sponsored by the Rural Center for AIDS/STD prevention. In 2009, the Rural Center established the Ryan White Distinguished Leadership Award and in 2010 the Ryan white Legacy Scholarship, according to ?the release.
“It is my hope that this lecture series will honor Ryan’s wishes for us all to promote the power and value of knowledge and to show compassion toward those infected with ?HIV/AIDS,” Yarber said in the press release. “And right now, an alarming outbreak of HIV infections here in Indiana, due to sharing HIV-carrying needles, demonstrates that there is much more ?still to do.”
White’s mother also commented on the new series in the release.
“I’m so thrilled that my son Ryan’s wish to educate about HIV/AIDS, and his dedication to showing compassion and understanding to all, lives on through this legacy dedicated in his name,” Jeanne White-Ginder, White’s mother, said in the press release. “The knowledge and wisdom shared by the invited speakers will be invaluable in preparing the next generation of AIDS/STI prevention specialists as well as updating current health care workers. It was his heartfelt wish to attend Indiana University in Bloomington. I’m very happy he will be ?remembered in such ?a way.”
Suzanne Grossman
