Azan Zahir Virji, MD, MBA, MPH

By collecting a practice’s historic registry data and associated patient reported outcomes and incorporating a machine learning model, clinicians can create personalized shared decision-making presentations for patients who are considering whether elective surgery will significantly improve their circumstances.

Key takeaways:

- Machine learning models can be used to support shared decision-making, help set realistic expectations among patients, and assist surgeons with patient… Show more

By collecting a practice’s historic registry data and associated patient reported outcomes and incorporating a machine learning model, clinicians can create personalized shared decision-making presentations for patients who are considering whether elective surgery will significantly improve their circumstances.

Key takeaways:

- Machine learning models can be used to support shared decision-making, help set realistic expectations among patients, and assist surgeons with patient selection.

- Scaling beyond a pilot requires financial incentives aligned with performance and a learning health care system committed to a culture of data-driven improvement efforts and transparency around processes and outcomes of care.

- Payers gaining more knowledge in the field of machine learning can drive change toward appropriate, high-quality care. Show less

International students struggle to find the support they need to get into U.S. health professions schools. I’ve created F-1 Doctors to change that.

My quote for how COVID19 has impacted medical students:

“The pandemic has made me want to pursue the medical field because there continues to be a massive gap in access to medical care,” added Azan Virji, a second-year medical student at Harvard University. “Marginalized groups still find themselves with less access to correct medical information, testing, and vaccines — something I hope to work on as a physician.”

“As the U.S. patient population becomes more diverse, the… Show more

My quote for how COVID19 has impacted medical students:

“The pandemic has made me want to pursue the medical field because there continues to be a massive gap in access to medical care,” added Azan Virji, a second-year medical student at Harvard University. “Marginalized groups still find themselves with less access to correct medical information, testing, and vaccines — something I hope to work on as a physician.”

“As the U.S. patient population becomes more diverse, the medical field must also follow suit so that our patients are served by people who look like them, understand their culture, and can speak to them in their native tongue,” said Virji. Show less

I wrote a short section on my thoughts post-election night and what it means for international students:

Bipartisan perspective to international education
“I came to the US for the pursuit of higher education almost seven years ago. When I first arrived, I felt welcomed, supported, and valued for my contributions to the melting pot that is the US. However, over the past four years, I have felt increasingly more fearful that my education would be cut short due to circumstances beyond… Show more

I wrote a short section on my thoughts post-election night and what it means for international students:

Bipartisan perspective to international education
“I came to the US for the pursuit of higher education almost seven years ago. When I first arrived, I felt welcomed, supported, and valued for my contributions to the melting pot that is the US. However, over the past four years, I have felt increasingly more fearful that my education would be cut short due to circumstances beyond my control.

The US has always been the pinnacle of meritocratic achievement, drawing the smartest students from across the world. And as international students, we bring a diversity of thought and experience to the institutions and communities we are a part of. However, the last four years have shown us that our future in the US may not be as stable as we once thought. Moving forward, I hope that the need for and benefit of international students in the US are seen as a bipartisan issue, one that doesn’t deviate with political whim and that students globally can count on.” Show less

My quote for the NYT on vaccines for medical students:

“One of my close friends is a dental student and is in people’s mouths on a regular basis, but she hasn’t received the Covid vaccine,” said Azan Virji, a second-year medical student at Harvard who got his first dose in late December. “It feels like there’s a disparity.”

Still, Mr. Virji said he has treated Covid-19 patients many times and felt a weight lifted knowing he is now inoculated.

“My parents in Tanzania may not… Show more

My quote for the NYT on vaccines for medical students:

“One of my close friends is a dental student and is in people’s mouths on a regular basis, but she hasn’t received the Covid vaccine,” said Azan Virji, a second-year medical student at Harvard who got his first dose in late December. “It feels like there’s a disparity.”

Still, Mr. Virji said he has treated Covid-19 patients many times and felt a weight lifted knowing he is now inoculated.

“My parents in Tanzania may not have access to this vaccine until 2022, and now I’m one of the first people to have access to it,” he said. “It’s bittersweet, but essential for me to feel calmer in the hospital.” Show less

As a freshman at Yale College, Azan Zahir Virji said he would joke with his friends about the U.S. government not letting him stay in the country after studying for so many years and jumping through so many hoops. He came seeking a better life for himself and his family in Tanzania: his mother, a former hairstylist, his father, an electrician. A good education was a stepping stone to a well-paying job, happiness, the American dream.

Seven years later and in his second year at Harvard… Show more

As a freshman at Yale College, Azan Zahir Virji said he would joke with his friends about the U.S. government not letting him stay in the country after studying for so many years and jumping through so many hoops. He came seeking a better life for himself and his family in Tanzania: his mother, a former hairstylist, his father, an electrician. A good education was a stepping stone to a well-paying job, happiness, the American dream.

Seven years later and in his second year at Harvard Medical School, Virji, now 25, finds himself wondering what place there is for a low-income, first-generation, international student like himself in the United States.

“Post-2016, it’s just gotten worse,” Virji told Teen Vogue. He wonders: Am I welcome here?

In this piece, I grapple with what the American Dream means and whether or not it is still feasible in the US. Is the US still a country that welcomes all? Show less

In this podcast episode, I speak to Linda about the unique challenges I faced as an international student applying to Harvard Medical School, as well as my mission to mentor students like myself through the organization I founded, F-1 Doctors.

In this piece, I reflect on a turbulent year triggered by the Trump administration’s visa restrictions.

“I am unbelievably relieved and grateful.”

That was the reaction of second-year Harvard Medical School MD student Azan Virji, expressing what many were feeling on July 14 as word reached them that the federal government had agreed to rescind a rule that would have required all international students in the U.S. on F1 student visas to attend fall classes in person or leave the country.

In this piece, I react after government rescinds its rule on remote study for international… Show more

“I am unbelievably relieved and grateful.”

That was the reaction of second-year Harvard Medical School MD student Azan Virji, expressing what many were feeling on July 14 as word reached them that the federal government had agreed to rescind a rule that would have required all international students in the U.S. on F1 student visas to attend fall classes in person or leave the country.

In this piece, I react after government rescinds its rule on remote study for international students. Show less

This is my unfiltered story- where I grew up, why I came to the US, and what my future goals are.

“Oh man, I’m ecstatic,” said Azan Zahir Virji, 25. “I’m so glad to hear it. I’m so thankful.”

I share my joy at the reversal of the ban on international students by the federal government.

In this article, I share my thoughts about the new ruling from the federal administration on international students.

After finishing his hectic first year at Harvard Medical School, Azan Virji decided to go camping at Jefferson Lake in Colorado with friends. Driving back from the trip on Monday, when they regained cellular service, Virji’s phone lit up with messages. U.S. immigration officials had just announced that international students might be forced to leave the country in the fall if their classes are only online.

“I started panicking, my heart rate went up. I started reading more about it and… Show more

After finishing his hectic first year at Harvard Medical School, Azan Virji decided to go camping at Jefferson Lake in Colorado with friends. Driving back from the trip on Monday, when they regained cellular service, Virji’s phone lit up with messages. U.S. immigration officials had just announced that international students might be forced to leave the country in the fall if their classes are only online.

“I started panicking, my heart rate went up. I started reading more about it and my heart dropped. I never saw this coming,” said Virji, an international student from Tanzania. He drove the rest of the way in near-silence. “‘America First’ is inherently un-American. And that was me finding out,” he told Foreign Policy.

In this piece, I was interviewed to share my thoughts on the unjust ban on international students in the summer of 2020. Show less

An article highlighting some of the homegrown innovations on the African continent to combat COVID19.

Key takeaways:

1) Africa does not get enough credit for its innovative prowess and the current global economic order deprives it of its immense resources needed to take new innovation to the next level.

2) The world should learn from some of the best of Africa - those who have been quick to respond to COVID19 and prioritize science and technological solutions to address… Show more

An article highlighting some of the homegrown innovations on the African continent to combat COVID19.

Key takeaways:

1) Africa does not get enough credit for its innovative prowess and the current global economic order deprives it of its immense resources needed to take new innovation to the next level.

2) The world should learn from some of the best of Africa - those who have been quick to respond to COVID19 and prioritize science and technological solutions to address this modern-day crisis.

3) As the cases of COVID19 rise on the African continent, the narrative may shift to one that pities the continent and dives into the history of corruption and inept political leaders. But let’s not forget the years of abuse, exploitation, and colonialist rule that have stunted the growth of the continent.

4) If Africans can create home-made ventilators and food delivery platforms with limited resources, imagine what they could do with more robust resources. Global powers should foster this creativity, nurture this enthusiasm, and kindle this ever-burning fire on the continent without exploiting it. Show less

To tackle the lack of information about COVID-19 and the shortage of PPE, members of the East African Diaspora in the US are taking action to help their fellow citizens back home.

During these next few weeks, about 150 million Americans will receive a check from the federal government as part of the COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments. But a large number of individuals who call the United States their second home will receive no help and will be expected to fend for themselves. Among them are students — international students — who pay their taxes, speak the national language, and, like everyone else, are searching for the “American Dream.”

Babesia microti and Babesia duncani are the main causative agents of human babesiosis in the United States. While significant knowledge about B. microti has been gained over the past few years, nothing is known about B. duncani biology, pathogenesis, mode of transmission or sensitivity to currently recommended therapies. Studies in immunocompetent wild type mice and hamsters have shown that unlike B. microti, infection with B. duncani results in severe pathology and ultimately death. The… Show more

Babesia microti and Babesia duncani are the main causative agents of human babesiosis in the United States. While significant knowledge about B. microti has been gained over the past few years, nothing is known about B. duncani biology, pathogenesis, mode of transmission or sensitivity to currently recommended therapies. Studies in immunocompetent wild type mice and hamsters have shown that unlike B. microti, infection with B. duncani results in severe pathology and ultimately death. The parasite factors involved in B. duncani virulence remain unknown. Here we report the first known completed sequence and annotation of the apicoplast and mitochondrial genomes of B. duncani. We found that the apicoplast genome of this parasite consists of a 34 kb monocistronic circular molecule encoding functions that are important for apicoplast gene transcription as well as translation and maturation of the organelle's proteins. The mitochondrial genome of B. duncani consists of a 5.9 kb monocistronic linear molecule with two inverted repeats of 48 bp at both ends. Using the conserved cytochrome b (Cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (coxI) proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome, phylogenetic analysis revealed that B. duncani defines a new lineage among apicomplexan parasites distinct from B. microti, Babesia bovis, Theileria spp. and Plasmodium spp. Annotation of the apicoplast and mitochondrial genomes of B. duncani identified targets for development of effective therapies. Our studies set the stage for evaluation of the efficacy of these drugs alone or in combination against B. duncani in culture as well as in animal models. Show less

The biosynthesis of the major acyl carrier Coenzyme A from pantothenic acid (PA) is critical for survival of Plasmodium falciparum within human erythrocytes. Accordingly, a PA analog α-PanAm showed potent activity against blood stage parasites in vitro; however, its efficacy in vivo and its mode of action remain unknown. We developed a new synthesis route for α-PanAm and showed that the compound is highly effective against blood stages of drug-sensitive and -resistant P. falciparum strains… Show more

The biosynthesis of the major acyl carrier Coenzyme A from pantothenic acid (PA) is critical for survival of Plasmodium falciparum within human erythrocytes. Accordingly, a PA analog α-PanAm showed potent activity against blood stage parasites in vitro; however, its efficacy in vivo and its mode of action remain unknown. We developed a new synthesis route for α-PanAm and showed that the compound is highly effective against blood stages of drug-sensitive and -resistant P. falciparum strains, inhibits development of P. berghei in hepatocytes, and at doses up to 100 mg/kg also inhibits blood stage development of P. chabaudi in mice. We used yeast and its pantothenate kinase Cab1 as models to characterize mode of action of α-PanAm and found that α-PanAm inhibits yeast growth in a PA-dependent manner, and its potency increases dramatically in a yeast mutant with defective pantothenate kinase activity. Biochemical analyses using 14C-PA as a substrate demonstrated that α-PanAm is a competitive inhibitor of Cab1. Interestingly, biochemical and mass spectrometry analyses also showed that the compound is phosphorylated by Cab1. Together, these data suggest that α-PanAm exerts its antimicrobial activity by direct competition with the natural substrate PA for phosphorylation by the pantothenate kinase. Show less

Babesia microti, a tick-transmitted, intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite circulating mainly among small mammals, is the primary cause of human babesiosis. While most cases are transmitted by Ixodes ticks, the disease may also be transmitted through blood transfusion and perinatally. A comprehensive analysis of genome composition, genetic diversity, and gene expression profiling of seven B. microti isolates revealed that genetic variation in isolates from the Northeast United States is almost… Show more

Babesia microti, a tick-transmitted, intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite circulating mainly among small mammals, is the primary cause of human babesiosis. While most cases are transmitted by Ixodes ticks, the disease may also be transmitted through blood transfusion and perinatally. A comprehensive analysis of genome composition, genetic diversity, and gene expression profiling of seven B. microti isolates revealed that genetic variation in isolates from the Northeast United States is almost exclusively associated with genes encoding the surface proteome and secretome of the parasite. Furthermore, we found that polymorphism is restricted to a small number of genes, which are highly expressed during infection. In order to identify pathogen-encoded factors involved in host-parasite interactions, we screened a proteome array comprised of 174 B. microti proteins, including several predicted members of the parasite secretome. Using this immuno-proteomic approach we identified several novel antigens that trigger strong host immune responses during the onset of infection. The genomic and immunological data presented herein provide the first insights into the determinants of B. microti interaction with its mammalian hosts and their relevance for understanding the selective pressures acting on parasite evolution. Show less

Human babesiosis is a tick-borne multisystem disease caused by Babesia species of the apicomplexan phylum. Most clinical cases and fatalities of babesiosis are caused by Babesia microti. Current treatment for human babesiosis consists of two drug combinations, atovaquone + azithromycin or quinine + clindamycin. These treatments are associated with adverse side effects and a significant rate of drug failure. In this paper, we provide evidence for the radical cure of experimental babesiosis in… Show more

Human babesiosis is a tick-borne multisystem disease caused by Babesia species of the apicomplexan phylum. Most clinical cases and fatalities of babesiosis are caused by Babesia microti. Current treatment for human babesiosis consists of two drug combinations, atovaquone + azithromycin or quinine + clindamycin. These treatments are associated with adverse side effects and a significant rate of drug failure. In this paper, we provide evidence for the radical cure of experimental babesiosis in immunodeficient mice using a combination of an endochin-like quinolone (ELQ) prodrug and atovaquone. These results will set the stage for future clinical evaluation of ELQ and atovaquone combination therapy for treatment of human babesiosis.

http://scienmag.com/combination-therapy-cures-tick-borne-illness-in-mice/ Show less