As we inch closer to the Annual Meeting, we're speaking with different subgroup members to highlight the distinct scientific talent that comes together under the ASTMH umbrella. This interview is with Laura C. Harrington, PhD, an active member of the American Committee of Medical Entomology (ACME). Harrington, who received her doctoral degree in entomology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, joined the Cornell faculty in 2001 and was promoted to full professor in 2012. Her research focuses broadly on the biology, ecology, and behavior of disease vectors, global health, and epidemiology, and she's received funding from NIH, NSF/NOAA, CDC and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Recognized as an outstanding teacher and revered mentor, Harrington teaches courses in medical entomology/epidemiology and global health, including a course on the history of human disease and its impact on human culture, titled, "Plagues and People."
1) You’ve been renewing your ASTMH membership for 13 years (thank you). What are the greatest benefits of being a member of the Society?
Among the most important benefits of membership is the opportunity to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting. ASTMH is different from the other societies that I belong to. There is a deep commitment to education, training, and promoting the science that we do. I feel energized after attending the Annual Meeting and inspired by my interactions with colleagues and trainees.
2) You have a unique perspective on tropical medicine having contracted dengue and malaria while living abroad. What did you learn as a patient that you’ve brought to your research?
Knowing what it feels like to be ill with dengue and malaria gives me a deep appreciation for the experience of patients. I’ve seen the impact dengue and malaria can have on entire communities. It gives me a greater sense of motivation in my research. When I teach my students, I can share my personal experience. I tell them what it felt like, how it was diagnosed, and how it was treated.
3) We’re seeing more sessions at the Annual Meeting that involve veterinarians. How do you see the field of veterinary entomology evolving and how can ASTMH continue to attract involvement those from colleagues?
Veterinary medicine was one of the first fields to embrace the concept of “One Health” – essentially that there is a connection between human and animal health and environmental health. A broad understanding of disease ecology, whether it impacts humans or animals will be critical for advancing the pace of research discoveries and prevention in emerging infectious diseases and tropical medicine. The Society can continue to attract veterinarians by offering symposia and other opportunities for cross-cutting discussions of One Health.
4) Non-scientists often think of tropical medicine as relevant to diseases that are common in developing countries – not in the West. In our advocacy efforts, the Society tries to show that global health issues have no regard for borders. How can we better underscore this point when talking to policy makers and others who are not very familiar with global health?
The world has become a global community for people and pathogens. We are not immune from entry of exotic tropical pathogens within our borders. This will only become more important with climate change and increasing global movement of people, animals, and pathogens. I believe that improving health equity for all global citizens can only benefit us all.
5) As a researcher whose teaching and mentorship skills have been recognized through awards and committee appointments, what advice do you have for colleagues in the Society about advising the next generation of Trop Med scientists?
The next generation will need to be successful in a different scientific and political environment than we experienced. They will require the ability to collaborate with large teams and organize diverse groups effectively. For this reason they will need even more breadth in their knowledge and expertise than we gained in our training. They will need strong communication skills. They will need to be adaptable and willing to learning new skills as tropical medicine evolves and they will need to pursue more diverse funding opportunities as researchers. Most of all, as mentors, we need to foster their sense of creativity and innovation.
6) In addition to the Annual Meeting, how can the Society evolve its approach to knowledge sharing and scientific collaboration?
One area where the Society can lead is by fostering the formation of networks and collaborations among regional scientists. One example is South and Central America, where tropical diseases research training opportunities are outstanding in some countries, yet non-existent in others. I see this despite striking commonalities in the health problems that need to be solved. It makes more sense for students to learn from others in the same region rather than coming to the US for training, especially for practical field-based investigations.
In my opinion, the Society could play a significant role in making connections between trainees and trainers as well as fostering a community of learning and idea sharing among researchers in these regions. I also sense a need for such region-wide networks in Africa.
7) Time for a fun question. You get the opportunity to go back in time. You can either have a conversation with any scientist who has ever lived OR observe a moment of scientific history. What would you choose and why?
Definitely, it would be observing a defining moment in tropical medicine. I would love to have watched the work of Ronald Ross unfold, feeding mosquitoes on his cages of birds and looking over his shoulder into the microscope as he made dissections and worked out the life history of malaria. Or I could sit at the table in Cuba as the Yellow Fever Commission devised their experimental plan.
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