Get to know Elizabeth Bukusi, distinguished visiting scholar from the Kenya Medical Research Institute
OCTOBER 6, 2025
Elizabeth Bukusi, PhD
Elizabeth Bukusi, PhD, MBChB, MMed, MPH, PGD, MBE, a leading global health expert and renowned HIV researcher joined WashU students and staff at the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds, as well as a lunchtime event hosted by the Midwest D-CFAR which offered invaluable insights into her distinguished career, impactful research, and unwavering commitment to improving global health outcomes.
Thomas Odeny, MD, PhD, a former student and mentee of Dr. Bukusi was especially impressed by her presentation on October 1. “Professor Bukusi delivered a powerful Grand Rounds talk, drawing on Africa’s Big Five (animals) to show how the natural world offers lessons in practicing good science, and how true scientific breakthroughs can uplift both the scientist and the communities they serve globally,” he said.
About Dr. Bukusi
Dr. Bukusi's career spans over three decades, marked by significant contributions to HIV prevention, care, and treatment. She is the Senior Principal Clinical Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute based at the Center for Microbiology Research. Dr. Bukusi has in part dedicated her professional life to advancing scientific understanding of HIV, working tirelessly to address the epidemic's multifaceted challenges, particularly among fishing villages near Lake Victoria in the southwestern region of Kenya.
Her research interests encompass HIV prevention, sexually transmitted infections, and reproductive health. She has also been is recognized for her mentorship, guiding numerous researchers and healthcare professionals worldwide. Her passion for community engagement and sustainable health initiatives has made her a prominent figure in global health.
Career Journey: From Medicine to Research
Dr. Bukusi’s journey into medicine was driven by her desire to help people. Initially interested in pediatrics, HIV came to the forefront of her concerns as a fourth-year medical student when Kenya diagnosed its first HIV case. Reflecting on those early days, Dr. Bukusi shared, “we didn't know what was causing this disease; there was massive stigma and profound fear.” She noticed how women who contracted the virus were more likely than those without HIV to experience aggressive cervical cancer and other life-threatening conditions.
Working as a clinician and researcher on the Kenya-Uganda border in the early 1990’s, Dr. Bukusi witnessed the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and maternal morbidity increase at an alarming rate. “I saw a lot of STIs, ectopic gestations, maternal deaths,” recalls Dr. Bukusi. This pivotal experience led her pursue postgraduate studies in obstetrics and gynecology and thereafter in public health and epidemiology at the University of Washington, thanks to support from the Fogarty International Center’s AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP), where she was mentored by the late King Holmes. Her studies on bacterial vaginosis and HIV prevention were fundamental to future advances in reproductive health.
Challenges and Breakthroughs
Dr. Bukusi's research has always intersected with practical challenges and cultural sensitivities. Her efforts to reduce bacterial vaginosis by encouraging male hygiene practices faced initial resistance. “Getting men to wash before or after sex was very difficult,” she recounts. Despite these difficulties, innovative approaches were explored, such as the use of alcohol-based gels, which eventually gave way to more effective solutions like male circumcision.
Her dedication extended beyond research to implementation science, crucially impacting HIV preventive measures. “The PEPFAR program enabled us expand care to over 250,000 individuals, into regions with previously limited resources,” she notes. Dr. Bukusi's work in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and cervical cancer treatment among HIV-infected women has been transformative, ensuring sustainable and impactful health interventions.
Dr. Bukusi hopes to inspire future generations of researchers and healthcare professionals. “If we can all just do our bit and do it well, we can make a difference,” Dr. Bukusi emphasizes. Her philosophy that “many drops of water make the mighty ocean” underscores the importance of collective effort in addressing global health challenges.
Written by April Houston.