Congratulations, President Obama, and Thank You, Dr. Kevin Fenton
Buried amid the wonderful news of the re-election of President Barack Obama and the glorious pomp and ceremony of his inauguration is the sad news of the departure of Kevin Fenton, M.D., Ph.D., from his post as director of the CDC's National Center on HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Dr. Fenton is a proud, openly gay Black man who spent the last seven years leading that billion dollar center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He left his position on Dec. 21, 2012, to head a new, national public health agency in the United Kingdom. All African Americans concerned about HIV/AIDS should note his departure as we celebrate President Obama's second inauguration.
Just three months after President Obama's first inauguration, he ended eight long years of presidential inaction on our national HIV epidemic. He began speaking publicly about the HIV epidemic in Black America and lifted the onerous travel ban prohibiting foreign citizens living with HIV/AIDS from obtaining a visa to visit this country. Ending the travel ban made it possible for the U.S. to host last year's International AIDS Conference.
While newly in office, President Obama made the White House the venue from which he launched the nation's first major new public health campaign for HIV/AIDS in nearly eight years: Act Against AIDS. One of its programs, the Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI), provides CDC funding to leading African American civic and social justice organizations such as the NAACP, National Urban League, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, allowing them to incorporate HIV prevention strategies into their missions.
Dr. Fenton kicked off AAALI at the White House, an especially fitting setting for that historic moment, which would not have happened without the President's commitment and Dr. Fenton's programmatic vision. The late, great Dorothy Height of the NCNW and I were at Dr. Fenton's side. From launching AAALI to finding funding to help end ADAP waiting lists and creating the Affordable Care Act, which will have an enormous positive impact, President Obama has done so much for African Americans and HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Fenton spent seven years as perhaps the most visible Black public health official addressing HIV in America, demonstrating his passion for changing the trajectory of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and forcefully addressing the health disparities of this disease for Black people. But he would say that he did not do so alone. A truly collaborative and giving soul, Dr. Fenton supported and encouraged Black leaders working in HIV all across our nation and was a willing collaborator with the Black AIDS Institute, supporting efforts like the Greater Than AIDS campaign and our work with Black journalists and media. Personally, he always supported me in my role as co-chair of the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and Treatment.
President Obama was the right person to lead our nation four years ago, and the majority of voting Americans agree that he is the right person to lead our nation for four more years. His presence atop the federal government made it possible for Dr. Fenton to do such a tremendous job for our nation, and with the interests of Black people as a top priority. We will sorely miss Dr. Fenton. However, with President Obama in the White House, we can surely know that those serving under him in the years ahead will represent our interests, too.
Thank you, Dr. Fenton, for a job well done, and congratulations, President Obama -- two great Black leaders committed to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic for all African Americans.
Jesse Milan Jr., J.D., is chair emeritus of the Black AIDS Institute, vice president at the Altarum Institute and a person living with HIV for 30 years.