The incredible story of Joep Lange's life and his unrelenting quest to
end the HIV epidemic.
When Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by pro-Russian rebels
in July 2014, the world wondered if a cure for HIV had fallen from the
sky and disappeared among the burning debris. Seated in the plane's
business-class cabin was Joseph Lange, better known as Joep, a shrewd
Dutch doctor who had revolutionized the world of HIV and AIDS and was
working on a cure.
Dr. Lange graduated from medical school in 1981, right as a new plague
swept across the globe. His story became intertwined with the story of
HIV. At once a physician, scientist, AIDS activist, and medical
diplomat, Lange studied ways to battle HIV and prevent its spread from
mother to child. Fighting the injustices of poverty, Lange advocated for
better access to health care for the poor and the vulnerable. He
championed the drug cocktail that finally helped rein in the disease and
was a vocal proponent of prophylactic treatment for those most at risk
of contracting HIV.
The Impatient Dr. Lange is the story of one man's struggle against a
global pandemic--and the tragic attack that may have slowed down the
search for a cure. Seema Yasmin charts the course of the HIV epidemic
and Dr. Lange's career as a young doctor who blazed his own path and
dedicated his life to HIV. Yasmin draws on written records, medical
journals, recorded discussions, expert testimony, and extensive
interviews with Lange's family, friends, and colleagues around the
globe--including the people he spoke to in the days before he died. She
faithfully reconstructs key scenes from Lange's life and the history of
the AIDS epidemic, revealing how Lange became a global leader in the
fight against AIDS.
The first book about Lange and his contributions to the fight against
HIV, The Impatient Dr. Lange is a powerful tribute to one of the
greatest scientists, activists, humanitarians, and social entrepreneurs
in the world of HIV/AIDS.
