In college, at the University of Minnesota, Aaron Christensen-Quick began researching HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
He was intrigued by how the virus can trick our immune systems and remain latent in human bodies for so long. As he was finishing up his doctoral degree on HIV at the University of Maryland, Christensen-Quick found out that he had become infected with the virus.
The difficulty of coming out with his status was exacerbated by a feeling of shame around knowing so much about the infectious disease. Christensen-Quick overcame the shame and fear and let others know about his status with a post on Facebook.
He continues to study the disease with an added awareness of how much his research means for himself and others living with the virus.
