Our Volunteers

Busy IT professional makes time to volunteer

Like many professionals, forty-year-old Scott Smith of Atlanta juggles many roles. A sales leader at a large technology company, he's also the vice-president of his neighborhood association, a dedicated husband, stepfather, and owner of two basset hounds Honey and Pearl. Yet, Scott manages to fit one more thing into his packed schedule: volunteering for an HIV vaccine trial.

"I got involved because I felt it was something I could do that would have a significant impact on the fight against HIV. When I did the research about the potential vaccine, I found that the risk of contracting the virus through the vaccine was negligible," he says.

Scott was one of the 3,000 volunteers in the Step Study. While he was disappointed by the study's outcome, Scott was realistic from the beginning and was well-informed of the nature of vaccine research. "I entered the study with an expectation that the study's goal was to assess the impact, if any, of the vaccine on the physiology of the recipients. I didn't think of the vaccine as a license to do what I wanted in any reckless fashion. I made my physician aware of the fact that I was in the study, but it has had no adverse impact on my personal life or physical condition.

"I received very favorable feedback from my friends and family," he continues. "Many of them were surprised that I'd been participating in the study. I received many words of thanks and encouragement for my work."

Click here for another story on Scott.


Explore further:	Our Volunteers Busy IT professional makes time to volunteer Like many professionals, forty-year-old Scott Smith of Atlanta juggles many roles. A sales leader at a large technology company, he's also the vice-president of his neighborhood association, a dedicated husband, stepfather, and owner of two basset hounds Honey and Pearl. Yet, Scott manages to fit one more thing into his packed schedule: volunteering for an HIV vaccine trial. "I got involved because I felt it was something I could do that would have a significant impact on the fight against HIV. When I did the research about the potential vaccine, I found that the risk of contracting the virus through the vaccine was negligible," he says. Scott was one of the 3,000 volunteers in the Step Study. While he was disappointed by the study's outcome, Scott was realistic from the beginning and was well-informed of the nature of vaccine research. "I entered the study with an expectation that the study's goal was to assess the impact, if any, of the vaccine on the physiology of the recipients. I didn't think of the vaccine as a license to do what I wanted in any reckless fashion. I made my physician aware of the fact that I was in the study, but it has had no adverse impact on my personal life or physical condition. "I received very favorable feedback from my friends and family," he continues. "Many of them were surprised that I'd been participating in the study. I received many words of thanks and encouragement for my work." Click here for another story on Scott.