SisterLove Celebrates the Appointment of Harold Phillips to the Office of National AIDS Policy

June 10, 2021 -SisterLove applauds the White House announcement appointing Harold Phillips to lead the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) earlier in this month.

The announcement was made on the 40th anniversary of what later became known to the world as AIDS. ONAP is part of the Domestic Policy Council in the White House.

Phillips, an out, Black gay man living with HIV since 2005, brings a plethora of experience to the role and marks the return of qualified leadership to ONAP, which was left vacant and unstaffed by the previous administration since 2017.

Phillips most recently served as the Senior HIV Advisor and Chief Operating Officer of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative in the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. His experience in the field of HIV/AIDS spans more than 20 years and includes past positions in both the federal government and in the community.

Prior to joining OIDP, Phillips served as the Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS Training and Capacity Development at the Health Resources and Service Administration’s HIV/AIDS Bureau, where he had previously served as Deputy Director of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part B and AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP). In addition to working with RWHAP recipients, planning councils, providers, and patients, he previously worked at NMAC (formerly the National Minority AIDS Council).

He also served on the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STD Prevention and Treatment (CHAC) from 2003–2010. He has a Master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an undergraduate degree from Kalamazoo College in Michigan. Phillips is also an expert in global initiatives to end HIV which will be imperative to end the HIV epidemic.

His appointment clearly demonstrates the current administration's commitment to leading the world (again) in ending the HIV epidemic which historically has disportionately affected LGBTQIA+ and cisgender people in communities of color.

SLI congratulates Harold Phillps on his appointment as ONAP Director and looks forward to supporting his unquestionable dedication to end the HIV epidemic. One of the most effective preventitive methods for HIV is information. That's why we rely on the easy-to-read fact sheets, infographics, and other information resources from HIVInfo.gov. Visit their website to learn more about the HIV epidemic and ways you can support those who live with it. HIVINFO RESOURCES