November 30, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Friends) is very pleased to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors: Dr. Bill Frist, former U.S. Senator from Tennessee and former Senate Majority Leader, and Dr. Eric P. Goosby, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Tuberculosis (TB), Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and former head of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Both Sen. Frist and Dr. Goosby bring backgrounds rooted in medicine, health and U.S. government leadership. Their expertise in global health, in particular, will assist Friends’ mission to end the epidemics of AIDS, TB and malaria through U.S. investment in the Global Fund, as well as bilateral health programs.
Since 2002, more than 22 million lives have been saved through the Global Fund partnership. For every $100 million invested in the partnership, Global Fund-supported programs are projected to save 133,000 lives; avert 1.9 million new HIV, tuberculosis and malaria infections; and create $2.2 billion in long-term economic gains.
“It is a great privilege to welcome both Sen. Frist and Dr. Goosby to Friends,” said Chris Collins, President of Friends. “Sen. Frist is a leading national voice speaking to the value of U.S. investments in results-focused global health programming. I’ve been fortunate to work with Dr. Goosby for many years, and greatly appreciate his leadership on both domestic and global AIDS, his impressive accomplishments at PEPFAR, and now his critical role in the response to TB.”
Sen. Frist, a nationally-recognized heart and lung transplant surgeon, is currently an Adjunct Professor of Cardiac Surgery at Vanderbilt University and a Clinical Professor of Surgery at Meharry Medical College. He is also Chairman of the Hope Through Healing Hands foundation, which focuses on global health and wellbeing, and Chairman of the Executive Board of the health care investment firm Cressey & Company. During his two terms in Congress, Sen. Frist’s leadership was instrumental in the passage of the PEPFAR legislation in 2003.
At UCSF, Dr. Goosby serves as both Professor of Medicine and Director of Global Health Delivery and Diplomacy, Institute for Global Health Sciences. Prior to this, Dr. Goosby served as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Ambassador-at-Large from 2009-2013, during which he oversaw the implementation of PEPFAR and the State Department’s Office of Global Health Diplomacy. From 2001-2009, he served as CEO and Chief Medical Officer of the Pangea Global AIDS Foundation. Dr. Goosby also previously served in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Clinton Administration, including as Director of the White House Office of HIV/AIDS Policy.
“It has never been more crucial to inspire strong U.S. leadership in the fight against these epidemics, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to welcome Sen. Frist and Dr. Goosby as collaborators in this important work,” said Jonathan Klein, Board Chair of Friends and Co-founder and Chairman of Getty Images. “Both bring invaluable perspectives – Sen. Frist with proven leadership experience on Capitol Hill, and Dr. Goosby as a former U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, former member of multiple White House administrations and across prestigious programs to fight epidemics. I look forward to working closely with them as we continue our advocacy work for U.S. investment in the Global Fund.”
“I’m very pleased to be joining Friends’ Board,” Sen. Frist said. “I have treated patients in Haiti and sub-Saharan Africa for 20 years, and I’ve seen firsthand the significant impact of U.S. investment in the Global Fund and U.S. programs. U.S. global health leadership saves millions of lives, and supports global stability, economic growth and diplomacy that pays dividends to Americans. I look forward to helping Friends’ efforts to make this case to policymakers.”
“Since its inception, Friends has made a tremendous contribution in advocating for U.S. support for the Global Fund’s lifesaving work,” said Dr. Goosby. “As head of PEPFAR, I witnessed the importance of the Fund in helping to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. It is critical that the Friends’ board highlights the Fund’s activities to strengthen both global health and global security. I believe that by working together to educate the Administration and Congress, we will be well positioned to ensure that the Fund is successfully funded during its next Replenishment in 2019.”
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About Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria advocates for U.S. support of the Global Fund, and the goal to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.theglobalfight.org.