Welcome Dr. Shannon Hader

Welcome Dr. Shannon Hader.

Congratulations on being appointed as the Director of HIV/AIDS Administration. Based on your background and current experience, D.C. can expect a real change in the approach and tactics used in combating this disease affecting many D.C. communities. You will bring to this position a needed fresh outlook, and out of the box thinking which hopefully will result in more outreach and education to help in the reduction of new transmissions, as well as, help those already afflicted with this disease.

Congratulations and much success in your new role.

Emmanuel Vaughn
D.C. Resident

My name is Ruby Corado and, It’s a Great Pleasure to Welcome You To the Great City Of Washington DC.

I want to say “Thank You” for taking on the challenge, It Feels Good To Have You Here!

Our City is home to beautiful people from different backgrounds, cultures and races. Although at times we seem to have our differences, WE ALL HAVE ONE COMMON DENOMINATOR- WE ALL HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND INFECTED BY HIV/AIDS.

As you lead our nation’s capital in the fight against this disease, I want to beg and plead that you give those infected and affected by this plague, the power to lead right along with you in this battle. NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN THOSE LIVING WITH THIS DISEASE.

As a Transgender Woman Of Color (Latina), I have witnessed How Homophobia, Trans-Phobia, Racism, and Poverty have fed into HIV/AIDS.

All the above are the Main reasons why HIV has become the monster that is it today in our communities.

Please acknowledge, please listen to the people, Please do something about it.

Bienvenida!

Mi Casa-Su Casa

Ruby Corado
HIV/AIDS Activist

Welcome Dr. Shannon Hader, my name is Alex Lawson I have been working in DC in the field of HIV for 2 and half years now, just recently finishing up a 2 year Ryan White SPNS project at Whitman Walker Clinic.  I have also been working with DC Fights Back, the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association and other community organizations to raise awareness of the issue of HIV in the District. I think that the challenges that you will face as the new director of the HIV/AIDS Administration are tough ones, but by working together with the community these challenges can be overcome. DC is a great city made up of great people, make use of those people and work with the community. DC Fights Back has some exciting events coming up and I hope that you would consider stopping by one of them. DCFB's community next event is

What: Resource Day
When: Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 10am until 2pm
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 401 I. Street SW Washington , DC

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Alex Lawson
www.dcfightsback.org

It is a relief to know that HAA has a credible and competent leader at last.  Welcome to the position and thank you for taking on the challenge.  I have been involved in the HIV/AIDS fight since it's inception in the US - when it was referred to as GRID; when it was thought to be an infection of the four H's: hemophiliacs, heroin injecting drug users, homosexuals, and Haitians.  More than anything I urge you to take a comprehensive and research-based approach in Washington to reduce HIV infections, re-infection, and transmission to others; and to assure quality services and treatment to all populations and communities.

And please, be more visible and assessable than our prior Directors of late; listen to those working in CBOs and ASOs responding to the needs of persons infected and affected; and really listen and respond to persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Having been a health educator and now an evaluator and qualitative researcher; and currently a member of the advisory board of the Max Robinson Center as well as the operating board of HIPS (Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive), I remain committed and involved in efforts to reduce the incidence of infections in the District.

A Billy S. Jones-Hennin, Chair
LGBT Advisory Committee
Mayor's Office of GLBT Affairs
603 Q Street NW (Ward 2)
WDC 20001-3404

I think that we need to stop moral panics over AIDS
and STIs and start dealing with the psychosocial and
socioeconomic factors of contraception use. What
factors produce epidemics and how can we prevent them?
I'm Dr. Anthony Avery. I'm a former ACT-UP/Buffalo
member. I'm affected with the virus but not defined by
it. I promote safe sex and against abstinence-only
education. The ideal education is a mixture of the
two. There is treatment for those who are positive and
we need to advocate for that also.

Welcome Dr. Hader!

Dr. Anthony Avery
Ph.D. American Studies
University of New Mexico

Dr. Hader:

Congratulations on your appointment.  I look forward to helping you in any way I can to help fight HIV/AIDS in DC.  Please don't hesitate to let me know how I can help.

Best-
Lane Hudson

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Lane Hudson

Support Adam Clampitt for DC Council At-Large, Nov. 2008
www.adamclampitt.com

My Blog Sites:
www.newsfortheleft.com
www.huffingtonpost.com/lane-hudson
www.bilerico.com/contributors/lane-hudson

DC Fights Back issued the following press release following the announcement in the Washington Blade that Dr. Hader has been appointed the new Director of the DC HIV/AIDS Administration

Washington, DC – August 7, 2007 – DC Fights Back, a grassroots HIV/AIDS advocacy organization in DC, congratulates Dr. Shannon Lee Hader for her appointment as the new Director of the HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA) of the District of Columbia Department of Health. DC Fights Back co-chairs Larry Bryant and George Kerr welcome Dr. Hader, and stress the importance of an HIV/AIDS Administration that listens to and is responsive to the local community.

Dr. Shannon Hader earned an M.D. at Columbia University and trained in internal medicine and pediatrics at Duke University Medical School and in infectious diseases at Emory University Hospitals. She succeeds Dr. Marsha Martin, who left the position when Mayor Adrian Fenty took office in January, 2007. The Director of the Department of Health, Gregg Pane, has been juggling the HIV/AIDS administration along with his other responsibilities for the past seven months.

DC Fights Back co-chair Larry Bryant states: "As a member of the community, we look forward to working with Dr. Hader and the Health Department to develop a plan that fully and effectively addresses the HIV/AIDS epidemic in DC. As an HIV positive resident of the District, I am encouraged that there is there is now someone heading the HIV/AIDS Administration, especially considering that DC has a higher HIV rate and higher AIDS-related death rate than any state in the union.”

Co-chair George Kerr states “With many unresolved issues at the HIV/AIDS administration, Dr. Hader has taken on a challenging position. We welcome the appointment of a full-time director of the HIV/AIDS Administration, and look forward to dialogue with Dr. Hader.”

DC Fights Back is a network of people living with HIV/AIDS and their allies working to engage ourselves and our communities in every aspect of HIV advocacy to ensure the best possible treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS; and the best possible science-based HIV prevention.