About Ruth
An unlikely advocate for people with
AIDS/HIV
Unlikely Advocate
Ruth Coker Burks was an unlikely advocate for people with AIDS / HIV. A single mom in Arkansas with no background in the medical field, Ruth became involved in the AIDS / HIV crisis while visiting a friend at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in 1984.
Since then, Ruth has spent over 30 years caring for people who were abandoned by their families and neglected by medical professionals. Ruth worked with President Bill Clinton when he was Governor of Arkansas, and served as an informal adviser to him and as a consultant on HIV/AIDS in the White House during his presidency.
The Red Door
While visiting her friend at the hospital, Ruth noticed a red door and saw nurses drawing straws to determine who would tend to the patient on the other side of that door. Curiosity got the best of her, and Ruth decided to sneak into the room. That is where she met Jimmy, her first AIDS patient, and her life would never be the same after that chance meeting.
Caring Activist
Ruth has cared for and helped bury over 1,000 people. She found compassionate and like-minded medical professionals to her care for her “patients” and learned as much as she could about the disease to understand the problems her patients faced. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the National Institute of Health sent their professionals to investigate how Ruth’s patients were living, on average, two years longer than others.
Courage, love, and strength
Ruth’s Stories
Her work as an AIDS Activist and Advocate, Motivational Speaker and Educator are illuminated through these Podcast interviews. Click on the links to learn more about Ruth and her incredible story.
Podcast: February 2nd 2021
Griefcast with Cariad Lloyd
Click here to listen
Podcast: February 3rd 2021
BBC Headliners
Click here to listen
Podcast: February 4th 2021
How to Own the Room
Click here to listen
Podcast: March 31st 2021
This Is Love
Click here to listen
Podcast: April 10th 2021
Let Christy Take It with Kieran and Derek
Click here to listen
Podcast: June 8th 2021
Dead Girls Talking with Minda and Jenna
Click here to listen
BBC OUTLOOK
Click here to listen
STORYCORPS
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