Governor Cuomo Appoints GMHC's CEO Marjorie J. Hill, PhD as Chair of NYS AIDS Advisory Council

Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the appointment of GMHC's CEO Marjorie J. Hill, PhD as Chair of the New York State AIDS Advisory Council (AAC) which was created in 1983 by Public Health Law, Article 27-E, Section 2778. 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.

Prior to her appointment as Chair, Dr. Hill served as a member of the AAC, selected by NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in 2007. Dr. Hill presently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), the world's first AIDS service organization. GMHC is a leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, education and support services in NYC, and a vocal advocate on HIV/AIDS at the city, state and federal levels.

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."

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.

Mr. Humberto Cruz, Director of the AIDS Institute, stated, "The AIDS Institute congratulates Dr. Hill on her appointment as Chair of the AIDS Advisory Council.  Dr. Hill has been a dedicated member of the Council with state and national expertise in HIV/AIDS that will benefit this newly appointed leadership role.  We look forward to our continued work with Dr. Hill and all Council members."

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).

Dr. Hill assumes her position effective immediately and will chair her first meeting on November 1, 2012.