Promoting & Protecting the AIDS Drug Assistance Program

By: Brandon M. Macsata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy Association

July 2007 officially marked the birth of the ADAP Advocacy Association, when a small Steering Committee filed the non-profit Articles of Incorporation in the District of Columbia and applied for its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (which would be granted five months later). For a decade, we have been "promoting and protecting the AIDS Drug Assistance Program" (ADAP).

None of it would have happened without the steady guidance from D. Ben Tesdahl, attorney for Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville (PPSV) — who provided his services pro bono, and as such would receive our very first ADAP Champion Award the following year in 2008! "Steady guidance" because along the way in obtaining our registered trademark, we bumped heads with the Automobile Association of America and Blue Cross Blue Shield (...it's a very long story). Thank you, Ben!

Earlier this year, we posted about our "10 Years of Accomplishment, Advocacy & Access to Care" to recap some important milestones attained throughout our organization's history. None of these accomplishments would have happened without the tireless commitment and leadership from the individuals who have served on our Board of Directors since July 2007.

As we unveil our anniversary logo celebrating 10 years of providing the patient voice for people living with HIV/AIDS who rely on ADAP, we also dedicate this blog post to these twenty-five wonderful individuals. It is our way of saying "thank you" for their service! Our board members have included:

• James Albino, 2008 to 2009
• Michelle Anderson, 2009 to present
• William E. Arnold, 2007 to present
• Aaron Baldwin, 2014 to 2015
• Robert Breining, 2010 to 2015
• Wanda Brendle-Moss, RN, 2015 to present
• Janine Brignola, 2011 to 2016
• Elmer R. Cerano, 2008 to present
• Crosby Cromwell, 2010 to 2013
• Eric Flowers, 2012 to present
• Darryl Fore, 2011 to present
• Philip A. Haddad, MD, 2007 to present
• Hilary Hansen, 2016 to present
• John D. Kemp, Esq, 2007 to 2009
• Jen Laws, 2016 to present
• Duane Malone, 2009 to 2010
• Glen Pietrandoni, Rh.P, 2009 to present
• Gary Rose, 2007 to 2008
• Elizabeth Shepherd, 2010 to 2015
• Keita Simmons, 2007 to 2009
• Robert Suttle, 2015 to present
• Chrys Thorsen, 2014 to 2016
• Joyce Turner-Keller, Arch-Bishop, 2007 to 2012
• Rani G. Whitfield, MD, 2007 to 2008
• Joey Wynn, 2009 to present

Among our directors, John D. Kemp, Gary Rose, and Arch-Bishop Joyce Turner-Keller, and Dr. Rani Whitfield have been named Directors Emeritus. We look forward to another decade dedicated to raising awareness, offering patient educational program, and fostering greater community collaboration.