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PHC Doctor Named President of International AIDS Organization
B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS' Dr. Julio Montaner to assume top post << BACK | Download Word File Vancouver, February 22, 2006 — Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, has been appointed president-elect of the world's leading independent association of HIV/AIDS professionals. Montaner will begin his term as president-elect of the International AIDS Society (IAS) at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Aug. 13-18. He will assume the presidency at the closing of the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, in 2008. Montaner says his election is the direct result of the Centre's growing reputation as a world leader in HIV/AIDS clinical care and research. "Our ongoing published research continues to push forward understanding of the complexities of the disease - from improving treatment regimens and outcomes to highlighting strategies that may prevent transmission of the virus," says Montaner. "This appointment is really a recognition of the Centre's multi-disciplinary team that is collectively responsible for this important and internationally relevant work." As president of IAS, Montaner will actively promote the role of the Society as an outstanding worldwide force of committed professionals working together to prevent, control and treat HIV/AIDS. He will focus his efforts on the global expansion of antiretroviral-therapy programs to limit the epidemic's growth. "We now have very powerful cocktails that are very simple and well tolerated. These regimens not only save lives, but can help decrease transmission-rates of HIV as part of an overall strategy focused on safer-sex practices and other important harm-reduction measures," says Montaner. Montaner leads clinical activities at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Canada's largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility. As well, Montaner is Co-Director of the Canadian HIV Trials Network and Director of the AIDS Research Program and the Immunodeficiency Clinic at St. Paul's Hospital, holding the Endowed Chair in AIDS Research at UBC, the first initiative of its kind in Canada. IAS is the world's leading independent association of HIV/AIDS professionals, with more than 6,000 individual members from over 130 countries. Toronto is the second Canadian city to host the society's bi-annual conference since Vancouver in 1996. Montaner was part of a small committee of local HIV/AIDS specialists that successfully lobbied for, and organized, the first global HIV/AIDS conference in the country. -30- Please contact Glen Edwards, media relations, 604-623-3007 w, 604-561-4640 c, glen@karyo.net About the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Founded in 1992 by St. Paul's Hospital and the provincial Ministry of Health, the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS is a key provincial resource seeking to improve the health of people with HIV through the development, ongoing monitoring and dissemination of comprehensive investigative and treatment programs for HIV and related diseases. St. Paul's Hospital is one of six health care facilities operated by Providence Health Care, Canada's largest faith-based health care organization. For more information, visit www.cfenet.ubc.ca About the IAS IAS is a worldwide force of professionals working together to prevent, control and treat HIV/AIDS. IAS provides critical platforms for presenting new research, sharing best practices and advancing the fight against AIDS. By promoting dialogue, education and networking, IAS helps close gaps in knowledge and expertise at every level of the response. IAS initiatives promote the application of the most current research and best practices in government policy and program development, focusing on resource-challenged settings For more information, visit www.iasociety.org << BACK | Download Word File |
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