Sura's Story
English
Arabic
In 1995, Sura and her brother were in medical school in Syria when he was punctured with a needle and infected with hepatitis B. Experiencing a severe infection called fulminant hepatitis, his liver began to fail, and he passed away only weeks later. In the 1990s, awareness and prioritization of hepatitis B vaccination were low, even among healthcare providers, and there was no opportunity for her brother to get a liver transplant to save his life. Sura is now training to practice medicine again in the U.S. and is determined to spread awareness about her family’s tragedy to prevent others from experiencing what her family went through.
Discussion Questions and Answers:
How did the time period and location of his diagnosis affect Sura’s brother’s treatment? (Medical trainees like Sura misunderstood the severity of the virus, believing it could be treated with rest and a healthy diet. In 1995, in Syria, liver transplants were not available to save Sura’s brother’s life.)
How can medical professionals manage the risks of hepatitis B? (Because the CDC observes, “Health care and public-safety personnel have a reasonably anticipated risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids,” all providers should be vaccinated.)
How is her brother’s death influencing Sura’s medical training in the U.S.? (She is learning more about hepatitis B, how to prevent and treat it, and encouraging everyone to get vaccinated.)
Sura's story is available in English and Arabic.