Obama appoints California physician as AIDS czar

The head of San Francisco’s HIV prevention program has been appointed as director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, the White House announced Wednesday.

As one of the nation's top public health experts, Dr. Grant Colfax will lead the nation's efforts on HIV prevention and treatment. He will also work with other federal agencies on the global battle against HIV and AIDS. He replaces Jeff Crowley, who stepped down at the end of last year.

“Grant’s expertise will be key as we continue to face serious challenges and take bold steps to meet them," President Obama said in a statement. "I look forward to his leadership in the months and years to come."

In addition to his position at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Colfax also worked as a physician at a public HIV clinic and conducted research on HIV testing and prevention.

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-- Anna Gorman