21 Jan American Academy of HIV Medicine Names Dr. Carolyn Chu as Chief Medical Officer
The Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Carolyn Chu, MD, AAHIVS, as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the organization. A long-time member, Dr. Chu has also served as co-chair of the Academy’s California/Hawaii chapter steering committee and on the National Board of Directors. Dr. Chu is an Associate Professor of Clinical Family and Community Medicine at the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and also provides comprehensive HIV, hepatitis C and primary care to patients at the San Francisco Health Network’s Family Health Center (FHC).
Dr. Chu’s extensive clinical and academic activities make her an ideal choice for CMO. She provides and helps direct remote clinical consultation on HIV and hepatitis to other providers through her role at the National Clinician Consultation Center (NCCC) and also works with the Ryan White Part D-funded Family Services Network of UCSF’s Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Health, where she collaborates with several Bay Area community and hospital/clinic-based agencies committed to improving delivery of care and clinical outcomes for HIV-affected women, children and youth.
“Dr. Chu brings a wealth of clinical knowledge that will help guide the Academy’s education programming,” said Bruce J. Packett, executive director of the Academy. “She will also ensure the Academy is delivering the most up-to-date treatment, care and prevention information that is most relevant to HIV care providers in the field.”
One of Dr. Chu’s passions has been demonstrating how and why primary care clinicians are vital for the HIV clinical workforce. This is an issue the Academy has embraced over the years, understanding that primary care practitioners will play an even greater role with ending the HIV epidemic due to workforce challenges in the HIV field.
In her role as CMO, Dr. Chu will be responsible for reviewing clinical content, crafting the Academy’s Clinical Research Update, serving as a medical expert for media interviews and helping with the development of continuing education for Academy members.
The Academy would also like to recognize and thank Jeffrey Kirchner, DO, AAHIVS, for his exceptional work as past CMO. Dr. Kirchner is retiring from the position after two years of service.
“We are honored to have had Dr. Kirchner’s superb guidance over the years and feel confident that Dr. Chu will continue to ensure that the Academy is producing high-quality clinical content so that our members can provide optimal care for people with and risk for HIV,” concluded Packett.
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About the American Academy of HIV Medicine: The American Academy of HIV Medicine is the nation’s leading independent organization of healthcare professionals dedicated to providing excellence in HIV care and prevention. Our membership of practitioners and credentialed providers manage the health of the majority of people with and at risk for HIV in the United States. The Academy’s mission is to ensure health care professionals have the resources needed to provide prevention, treatment and care for those living with or at risk for HIV and related conditions to achieve optimal health.