FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AIDS United Congratulates Francisco Ruiz on Appointment to Lead White House Office of National AIDS Policy
Contact: D. D’Ontace Keyes (communications@aidsunited.org)
Organization: AIDS United
Washington, DC – AIDS United congratulates Francisco Ruiz on his appointment as the new director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy. Mr. Ruiz, a Latinx gay man living with HIV, brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.
In his previous role at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mr. Ruiz led the National Partnerships Team within the Division of HIV Prevention, where he played a key role in advancing the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) Initiative and other national HIV efforts. His leadership and dedication to public health have been instrumental in shaping CDC’s HIV messaging and fostering strategic partnerships to ensure these messages reach diverse communities across the country.
“We are thrilled to congratulate Francisco Ruiz on his appointment as the new director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy,” said Jesse Milan, Jr., J.D., President and CEO of AIDS United. “Francisco is a consummate public health professional whose life experience and perspective as a Latinx gay man living with HIV will be invaluable in his new role. We are confident that he will continue to be a strong advocate for the HIV community and will work tirelessly to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, as President Biden has outlined.”
Mr. Ruiz’s appointment also reflects the principles of meaningful involvement of people living with HIV, which are a cornerstone of the efforts to end the HIV epidemic. His community-driven approach to public health and his commitment to lifting up others living with HIV make him an ideal choice for this important role. Milan added, “I’ve known and worked with Francisco personally for many years. He will represent us living with and vulnerable to HIV well, and I’m confident he’ll help promote the policies and funding needed to address inequities and advance our national goals for ending this epidemic.”
With the appointment of a new director, we encourage the White House and Domestic Policy Council (DPC) to reprioritize the position as part of the effort to end the HIV epidemic. In a letter to the director of the DPC, Neera A. Tanden, AIDS United and the Public Policy Council outlined three opportunities in which the DPC and White House could offer support to the director. These included the dedication of DPC resources to the role, bestowing convening authority on the director position, and lastly, providing an office for the director in the White House.
AIDS United is thrilled to continue our work and partnership with the Office of National AIDS Policy with Mr. Ruiz as its new director.
For media inquiries or interviews, please contact communications@aidsunited.org
