Dr. Judith Auerbach
Judith Auerbach is a professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and an independent science and policy consultant. She previously served in leadership positions at the National Institutes of Health, the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, amfAR, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Judy received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. She has taught, presented, and published widely in social factors that influence HIV epidemics and related health inequalities, attention to women in the HIV/AIDS response, and community-engaged research.
She has served on numerous professional and advisory groups, including the Scientific Advisory Board of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Governing Council of the International AIDS Society, and the Advisory Group of the Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS. Judy has received numerous awards, including election in 2022 as a lifetime Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Chris Beyrer MD, MPH
Gary Hock Distinguished Professor in Global Health
Director, Duke Global Health Institute
Professor of Medicine, Duke University
Associate Director, Global HIV, Duke Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)
Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, an internationally recognized epidemiologist who has worked on the front lines of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 treatment and research, became director of the Duke Global Health Institute in August 2022. Beyrer has led collaborative research on HIV epidemiology, prevention and treatment in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia for more than 30 years.
He is past president of the International AIDS Society, the world’s largest body of HIV professionals, and currently serves as an advisor to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the World Health Organization, and Physicians for Human Rights. The author of over 400 scientific papers, he was named in 2022 to the annual list of the world’s most cited scientists.
Before coming to Duke, Beyrer was the inaugural Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he served as associate director of the JHU Center for AIDS Research and the Center for Global Health. He was the founding director of the Center for Public Health and Human Rights. He received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and holds a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2014 and serves on the Academy’s Board for Global Health and on the Committee for Human Rights.
Craig Chicoine
Craig Chicoine is a results-driven Business Process Optimization Leader with a proven track record of transforming company-wide operations. His expertise lies in executing data and process analysis, managing change, and overseeing projects. Craig focuses on ensuring optimal measurement and monitoring of processes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and guiding organizations through the transition to digitalized and automated operational environments.
His professional experience includes: McKesson (Dallas, TX) – Manager, Real Estate Business Processes; Revantage A Blackstone Company (Chicago, IL) – Manager, Technology Solutions Engineering; CoreLogic (Sunrise, FL) – Senior Professional, Data Process Engineering; and ADT Security (Boca Raton, FL) – Senior Business Process Analyst / IT Project Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT. Craig Chicoine is a Greater Asheville, NC resident who enjoys life with his loyal canine companion, Max.
His heart belongs to the majestic mountains of Western North Carolina, where he finds solace. Craig’s journey reflects a commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, and community service.
Duane Cramer
Former trustee of AIDS United. Person Living with HIV.
Founder and Creative Director
Duane Cramer Creative
Duane Cramer is known internationally for his inspired photography and social marketing expertise. Cramer’s first published images graced the pages of Harpers Bazaar Latin America in 1996, and since then his work has been featured in Vibe, British GQ, The New York Times and other prominent publications. He has uniquely framed and captured images from the President of the United States of America to top models, Academy and Grammy Award winning artists and Olympians. Cramer’s artistic passion gives him strength in his personal fight against HIV while visually documenting the impact of AIDS on people who too often go unnoticed.
As a trustee for organizations established to make a difference in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, Cramer’s contributions to world-wide prevention efforts are well known and recognized and indicative of his unwavering commitment to service.
As Founder and Creative Director of Duane Cramer Creative (DCC), Cramer and his team provide specialized advertising and business consulting services to groups, foundations and agencies. In this capacity, Cramer has become one of the most sought after photographers for organizations seeking leadership and direction in capturing and applying relevant imagery through national campaigns.
Early accomplishments and preparation for leadership started when Cramer earned his B.B.A (Marketing) from the University of Southern California, followed by 18 years of corporate leadership. He gained critical support, inspiration, and mentoring from his father, Joe. J. Cramer, Jr. PhD, who died from AIDS related complications in 1986 (while professor and associate dean of the business school at Howard University Washington, D.C.). Duane says “HIV has been living with me” since 1996.
Cramer has tapped his artistic gifts and passion to fuel his HIV activism. He encourages others, particularly African Americans, to know their HIV status and take action to live healthy lives. Cramer’s leadership and influence has become vital for the international efforts to raise awareness and bring an end to the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Erica Johnson, M.D.
Erica Johnson, M.D., Asst. Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Leading HIV physician. Chair of the Infectious Disease Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia, followed by a medical degree at the University of Maryland. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas.
Dr. Johnson serves as a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and recently completed 11 years as a medical corps officer in the United States Army, where she served as associate program director for the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC) Internal Medicine Residency and Infectious Disease Fellowship Programs at BAMC. She also held an appointment as assistant professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Dr. Johnson has research interests in infections associated with combat trauma and deployment infection control, as well as HIV outcomes, gender-based health issues, and disparities in care.
Pamela Garmon Johnson
National Vice-President, Health Equity Impact and Partnerships
American Heart Association
Chief Strategist. Equity Executive. Board Member. Public Health Entrepreneur.
Pamela Garmon Johnson is a visionary leader in the healthcare industry, renowned for her relentless pursuit of health equity and innovative solutions. With a passion for positive transformation, she has emerged as a prominent change agent, fearlessly advocating for inclusivity and equality within healthcare. Throughout her illustrious career, Pamela has continuously demonstrated her commitment to breaking down barriers and ensuring that health equity is not just a distant goal but a tangible reality for all.
As a power for innovation, she has spearheaded numerous initiatives that have revolutionized the healthcare landscape, creating an environment that fosters equal access to quality care, regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or location.
One of Pamela’s most profound strengths is her ability to mentor and uplift professionals from diverse backgrounds, especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BPOC). Her nurturing and supportive leadership style empowers teams and individuals to harness their inner power and become effective agents of change in their own right. By championing and developing talent within her organization and beyond, Pamela has inspired a new generation of leaders who carry the torch for health equity and social justice.
Naina Khanna
Former trustee of AIDS UnitedFounding Director
Positive Women’s Network – USA
Naina Khanna is Founding Director of Positive Women’s Network – USA, a national organization that prepares and supports women living with HIV to be involved in all levels of policy and decision-making by: eliminating stigma, building leadership, mobilizing advocates, and changing policy. Naina currently serves on the Steering Committee for the 30 for 30 Campaign as well as the US People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Caucus, as a member of the Women’s Research Initiative (WRI), and has served on President Obama’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) since February 2010. Prior to working in HIV, Naina co-founded and served as National Field Director for the League of Pissed Off Voters, a progressive electoral organizing project focused on increasing political participation by young people and communities of color.
Jamie Nesbitt
Former board secretary for AIDS United. A major donor to AIDS United. A person living with HIV.
Patent And Trademark Director
Alector
Jamie Nesbitt received a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship in neurobiology at Stanford University. He then took a position at a start-up biotechnology company (FibroGen) as one of their first research scientists, later redirecting his career to intellectual property, advancing to Director of intellectual Property. In 2011, Dr. Nesbitt accepted a position at Genentech, supporting infectious disease, neuroscience, development sciences, and structural biology.
Dr. Nesbitt is the Patent and Trademark Director at Alector, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immuno-neurology therapeutics for treating neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Nesbitt served as a Board member at AIDS United for 9 years, including as Board Secretary. Dr. Nesbitt has also been a Board member at KPOV (a community radio station in Bend, OR) and co-founded the non-profit OUT Central Oregon, supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
John Roberts
Actor, comedian, writer
Emmy-nominated John Roberts voices Linda Belcher on the Emmy-winning animated prime-time comedy Bob’s Burgers. He has appeared on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Watch What Happens Live, IFC’s Comedy Bang! Bang!, Archer and The Awesome’s. He’s performed in two international tours with Margaret Cho and her Showtime special and wrote and sang with Blondie on their critically acclaimed album Pollinator.
His comedy performances on YouTube are highly popular and his video, “The Christmas Tree” earned a Broadband Emmy nomination. His “Jackie & Debra” video won The Comedy Smalls award in London. John’s work has over 20 million hits on YouTube. He supports AIDS United’s Harm Reduction Futures Fund and AIDSWatch event.
