If you were watching the news last summer when the Delta variant of COVID-19 was hitting hard, you likely caught at least a few interviews with Dr. Mark Kline.
An infectious disease specialist by training, Kline jumped into the role of chief medical officer at Children’s Hospital New Orleans last July and quickly became a go-to source for both local and national media including NBC, CNN and CBS. Given his background, it’s not hard to see why.
In the early years of the HIV pandemic, Kline discovered a passion for caring for children affected by the deadly virus. In the years that followed, the Texas native helped develop several of the drugs that became standard treatment for children with HIV around the world. He then went on to create the largest network of pediatric treatment centers for HIV in the world — now numbering at over 400,000. As a result of his work, Kline was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
What’s next for the man who transformed the way the world treats HIV in children? According to Kline, it’s transforming the way Louisiana cares for children and families.
“We’re building a program here like this state has never seen,” said Kline, who is also a member of the faculty at both LSU and Tulane medical schools. “The goal is to have everyone perfectly aligned to improve the health and well-being of children and families across Louisiana, and Children’s can be the catalyst to do this.
“I feel like this is our time,” he added. “We’re on a trajectory to be one of the best children’s hospitals anywhere.”