I’ve been producing television for more than 40 years, but I’m a relative newcomer to QUEST. I’ve done four pieces so far for the series, and each segment has been a reminder of why I do what I do. I’ve grown from all I’ve learned in researching the topics, doing my best to grasp the ideas and articulate them clearly so others can grasp the content, which is often complex and steeped in a vocabulary all its own. What’s more, I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories that have meaning to people’s lives, and stories with new and hopeful developments.
I came to realize that hope has a lot to do with science. It’s the driving force for those who seek cures, for those who work to protect the environment, for those who search for solutions to the pain and problems facing humanity. I’ve seen excitement and passion in the eyes of scientists when they talk about the difference their research can make in the world.
So it was the human element and the promising science that made “Hepatitis C: The Silent Epidemic” a piece that moved me and will stay with me. The human impact of a story gives it power. So as a producer, I always look for those who are most affected and those who are left out.
One of a number of encouraging sides in the fight to contain and prevent the spread of HCV is the development of the San Francisco Task Force on Hepatitis C and I had the privilege of attending one of their meetings. From patients dealing daily with the potentially deadly liver disease to doctors and community advocates, the room was full of committed and good-hearted people with a range of backgrounds and expertise.
As members of the Task Force talked about what needs to be done to stem the spread of the disease and to develop public awareness campaigns, one of the two African-Americans at the meeting talked about the disproportionate impact of hepatitis C in the black community. She urged the task force to make a concerted effort to reach out to African-Americans. I sensed her frustration as the discussion continued with little or no response to her concerns and afterward I followed her out into the lobby to talk about it.