News Release

Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS Executive Director Named

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced Mary (Marty) McGeein, HHS' deputy assistant secretary for health (policy), as executive director of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA).

The Presidential Council on HIV/AIDS, established in 1995, provides recommendations regarding programs and policies intended to anticipate and respond to the world's HIV/AIDS epidemic to the President and the Secretary.

"Marty's extensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS policy and broad range of experience and expertise uniquely qualifies her to serve the members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. I look forward to working with her and the council as we continue to improve the lives of people with the disease and prevent the spread of HIV," Secretary Leavitt said.

McGeein also has served as deputy assistant secretary for disability, aging, and long term care policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, where she oversaw research and policy design on disability and aging, nursing homes, and HIV/AIDS. In that capacity, McGeein led the Department's involvement in the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act.

Prior to joining HHS, Ms. McGeein was president and CEO of The McGeein Group, a policy design and strategic resource management services. Before that, she was executive vice president of the National Council of Community Hospitals (NCCH). She joined NCCH after serving for six years in the White House under President Ronald Reagan.

Prior to her White House service, McGeein was nurse manager at Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, Md.

More information about the President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS is available at www.pacha.gov.

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Last revised: January 12, 2009