Washington, DC – It is with great sadness that The AIDS Institute announces the passing of its Executive Director, Dr. Gene Copello, age 49, at INOVA Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia on October 7th due to complications associated with kidney disease. Dr. Copello joined Florida AIDS Action in 1999 and through his vision and inspiration transformed it into The AIDS Institute, one of the nation's leading HIV/AIDS public policy, research and advocacy organizations. The AIDS Institute has offices in Washington, DC and Tampa, Florida.

"This is a profound loss not only for The AIDS Institute but the entire HIV/AIDS community," commented Dr. Cesar Caceres, President of The AIDS Institute Board of Directors. "Gene had a unique gift that united the various parts of the HIV/AIDS community through his leadership and personality. Gene helped establish The AIDS Institute as a leading voice on HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and other diseases, and grew it from a domestic to a global advocate. The AIDS Institute will continue to carry out its mission to promote action for social change through public policy research, advocacy and education, but it certainly will not be the same without Gene's guidance and leadership" stated Caceres. "We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of support we have received over the past couple of days; we know how much Gene was loved and will be missed by many."

"Gene was an amazing, gifted and talented leader; he was also a very good friend to me and many others," said Jeanne White-Ginder, Vice-President of The AIDS Institute Board of Directors. "He was driven and passionate and he will certainly be missed by many friends, colleagues and the people for whom he advocated throughout the world."

Copello was a champion for the past 25 years for people living with HIV/AIDS and for other healthcare concerns, both domestically and globally. At the time of his death he was also an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, and Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine. Copello served in numerous leadership positions. He was the founding Co-Chair of the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership; Board Member, National AIDS Housing Coalition; Board Member and Healthcare Reform Task Force Co-Chair, National Physicians Alliance; Public Policy Committee Member, American Academy of HIV Medicine; Steering Committee Member, Caucus for Evidence-Based Prevention; and Board Member, Dialysis Patient Citizens.

He was a member of the International Alliance of Patient Organizations and the Campaign for Public Health Advisory Council. Dr. Copello was a member of the United States Delegation to the 2008 United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS.

In the past he was President of the California Conference of Local AIDS Directors, Founding Community Co-Chair of the Southern AIDS Coalition, Board Member, AIDS Action Council, and President, International Society for AIDS Education and Prevention.

During his career, he was frequently recognized with professional and community awards, was a published author in the HIV/AIDS field and was a frequent invited speaker on HIV/AIDS topics. Editorial board service has included the journal AIDS Education and Prevention.

Previously, Dr. Copello served as Chief of HIV Services for the City of San Francisco and as Executive Director of the San Mateo County AIDS Program in California. He began his career as a faculty member at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he also founded and directed the Vanderbilt AIDS Project.

Dr. Copello received his doctoral degree with a focus in public policy and medical ethics from Vanderbilt University where he also received a master of divinity degree in ethics. He holds a master of science degree in social work from the University of Tennessee. His undergraduate work in psychology was completed at Eckerd College. Dr. Copello completed a Post-Graduate Fellowship in Clinical Ethics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Dr. Copello was born in Passaic, New Jersey and is survived by his lifelong companion Frederick Wright of Alexandria, loving family member Marie Wright of Tampa, Florida, and brothers Vincent Copello of Warwick, New Jersey, and Larry Copello of Seminole, Florida.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 13th at 1 pm at St. Thomas' Parish, 1772 Church St. NW, Washington, DC 20036. There will be a reception immediately following the services at St. Thomas' Parish.

A community memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 16th at 5 pm at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

A memorial service is also being planned for November 13, 2008 in Orlando, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dr. Copello's memory and his life-long commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic can be made to The AIDS Institute, 17 Davis Blvd., Suite 403, Tampa, FL 33606-3438 or by clicking the link below.

https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=650380952

The Board of Directors of The AIDS Institute has appointed Michael Ruppal, Associate Executive Director, as Interim Executive Director.

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