The New Jersey Department of Health announced that 32 public members were appointed to the Advisory Council on HIV, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis. The advisory council is responsible for coordinating initiatives designed to address the HIV epidemic, the rising cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and viral hepatitis, and the risks of contracting such diseases through injection drug use.
“New Jersey remains steadfast in our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic and reducing the impact of co-occurring conditions,” said Acting Commissioner Jeff Brown. “This advisory council represents our unwavering dedication to culturally responsive and evidence-based public health strategies to address these health challenges. It is a powerful coalition of voices bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences with a shared commitment to reducing new infections, expanding access to testing and promoting care linkages.”
The Advisory Council on HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis repurposes and updates the governor’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and Related Blood Borne Pathogens with a broader mission to address these pressing communicable disease threats to public health with specific attention to their disproportionate impact on New Jersey’s Black, Hispanic, Latino and LGBTQIA+ communities.
The advisory council’s main purposes are to:
- Coordinate efforts among public and private health care agencies and providers, community-based organizations and other strategic partners to promote public awareness and education on the prevention and treatment of HIV, STIs and viral hepatitis and how to access related services in New Jersey.
- Identify or develop opportunities or strategies that may be used to mitigate the HIV epidemic, STIs and viral hepatitis, including but not limited to, efforts to implement the Strategic Plan to End the HIV Epidemic in New Jersey by 2025 and A Framework for Viral Hepatitis Elimination in New Jersey 2022.
- Recommend policies, projects, programs, initiatives or services designed to improve health outcomes and reduce health outcome disparities, including efforts to address systemic inequities affecting HIV, STI and viral hepatitis health care.
The advisory council is chaired by the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health (or designee) and consists of senior officials from across state government whose responsibilities are crucial to supporting public health. This includes representation from the Department of Health, Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, Department of Banking and Insurance, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.
The commissioner of health appoints at least 25 public members — including public health care professionals, policy experts, social and direct care organization representatives, advocates and individuals who have lived experience with HIV, STDs or viral hepatitis — to serve on the advisory council.
The current appointed public members are:
- Kathy Ahearn-O’Brien
- Ketlen Alsbrook
- Nawal Ammar
- Ann Bagchi
- Chad Balodis
- Jackie Baras
- Cathleen Bennett
- Martha Chavis
- Clement Chen
- Mark Condoluci
- Dottie Dowdell
- Lawrence Downs
- Ingrid Floyd
- Christian Furscarino
- Pamela Gorman
- Perry Halkitis
- Robert Johnson
- Erika Kerber
- Brian McGovern
- Jenna Mellor
- Dwight Peavy
- Shannon Preston
- Elizabeth Schedl
- Georgett Shelton
- Jihad Slim
- Axel Torres Marrero
- Steven Toth
- Gary Paul Wright
The Senate president and assembly speaker are each responsible for recommending two members of their Legislative bodies. Current appointed members from the New Jersey Legislature include:
- Senator Renee C. Burgess
- Senator Joseph F. Vitale
- Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz
- Assemblywoman Lisa Swain
