GMHC's CEO Marjorie Hill Leads NYS AIDS Advisory Council Meeting as New Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Krishna Stone | 212.367.1016

New York, NY — On January 17, as the newly appointed Chair of the New York State AIDS Advisory Council (AAC), GMHC's CEO Marjorie J. Hill, PhD led her first meeting. The AAC is responsible for advising the Commissioner of Health and the NYS AIDS Institute, and for making recommendations regarding the State's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Dr. Hill commented: "I am honored to be appointed Chair of the NYS AIDS Advisory Council and look forward to continuing to work closely with Governor Cuomo, the NYS Department of Health and the AIDS Institute, as well as my distinguished colleagues on the AAC. New York State has more cases of HIV than San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, DC combined, yet most New Yorkers do not know this. HIV awareness and education will be top priorities for my tenure."

Among the many notable achievements of the AAC are:  the development and evaluation of the Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP); recommending the formation of the Interagency Task Force on HIV/AIDS (created through an Executive Order in 1997); and the publication of an array of important reports such as "Principles on HIV Testing of Defendants in Certain Crimes" (1996); "Report on Needle Exchange Programs and Deregulation of Needles and Syringes" (1996); "Report of the Ethical Issues in Access to HIV Treatment Workgroup" (1998); "Findings of the HIV Surveillance Workgroup" (1998); "Report on HIV/AIDS Services in New York State Correctional Facilities" (1999); "Communities at Risk: HIV/AIDS in Communities of Color" (2001); "Report on Syringe Access in New York State" (2005); and "Women in Peril, HIV & AIDS, The Rising Toll on Women of Color" (2005).

The AAC has 17 appointed members (appointed by the Governor, the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, the Speaker of the Assembly and the Assembly Minority Leader) whose affiliations include educational and medical institutions; local health departments; nonprofit organizations, including the advocacy and service communities; legislators; and persons living with HIV/AIDS.  The Chairperson of the AAC is designated by the NYS Governor.  No terms of office are specified in the authorizing legislation and AAC members receive no compensation for their services.

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About GMHC
GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS.  We provide prevention and care services to men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City.  We advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.