Trivia

He studied medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and studied microbiology and immunology in the UK. He joined the faculty at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York, worked in the city's health department, and volunteered at a clinic for gay men in Greenwich Village before opening his own practice there.

He was a gay physician and expert in infectious diseases who was one of the first doctors to recognize the emergence of what would eventually be called AIDS.

He was born in Johannesburg and grew up in what is now Zimbabwe. His mother was a physician, and his father was a sociologist; both were Jewish immigrants from Europe.

Had two sons from two different relationships.

Was a consultant on the booklet "How To Have Sex In An Epidemic: One Approach" (1983).

His sister Yolanda Sonnabend was a renowned stage designer.

In 2018 he made his public debut as a composer when selections of his music were performed at two concerts in London's Fitzrovia Chapel.

Opened his medical practice in New York's West Village in 1978 to work work gay men.

Co-founded the AIDS Medical Foundation now known s the Foundation for AIDS Research.

The Foundation for AIDS Research awarded Sonnabend their annual award in 2000 for his contribution to the fight against AIDS.

Pioneered and promoted the use of a sulfa drug to prevent pneumonia in people with H.I.V.

Co-founded the Community Research Initiative which hastened studies of treatments of H.IV. and AIDS.