Ruthann Richter has been writing about medical issues, including HIV/AIDS, since the early 1980's. She holds a Master's degree in journalism from Stanford University and has received awards for her reporting from the American Cancer Society, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. She first traveled to Africa in 2004, when she became gripped by the human devastation of AIDS and felt compelled to help through her writings, presentations and fundraising. In addition to her Africa projects, she is the Director of Media Relations at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she works with media from around the world and covers HIV/AIDS issues. She lives in Palo Alto, Calif., with her husband, Jay, and daughter, Shaina.