The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has named Dr. Barbara Andrino one of its U.S. TB Elimination Champions for 2025. The U.S. TB Elimination Champions Project highlights individuals and organizations making significant contributions to ending tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. The announcement is part of the commemoration of World TB Day.
Dr. Andrino served as a dedicated TB physician at the Fairfax County Health Department for 13 years, working with thousands of TB patients before retiring in 2024. She was known for giving her full attention and energy to each individual, going above and beyond to ensure they had the best chance of successfully completing TB treatment.
“I was so surprised when I learned that I had actually been chosen,” said Dr. Andrino. “Because I sort of fell into the TB world by happenstance, when the previous person left and I was chosen to fill the role. But I am so proud to represent the hard work and dedication of the entire TB Program team. The award is really a validation of everyone’s commitment to serving the community.”
While she devoted extensive energy to tailoring treatment plans for each person with TB, Dr. Andrino also understood the broader public health implications associated with each case. She worked diligently with her team to ensure that household members were contacted for testing and treatment, prioritizing those at higher risk.
Given the diverse demographics of Northern Virginia, Dr. Andrino and her team worked to understand the cultural, social, and medical needs of each patient, taking a health equity approach with patients from a vast range of backgrounds. She consistently organized opportunities for colleagues to come together in support of TB patients and their families, whether sourcing winter clothing or helping a family prepare for a new baby. No need was too small or too large for her to address.
“Caring for patients with TB is challenging,” said Dr. Andrino. “But what I am most proud of, and what I have enjoyed most was helping those who were sick with TB get better. To be with them along the journey from serious illness, to diagnosis, to treatment, and a return to a healthy and normal life was so very rewarding.”
World TB Day is observed annually on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tuberculosis and to intensify efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of the bacterium that causes TB, paving the way for diagnosing and curing the disease.