ASM Leader, John Nkengasong, Appointed Ambassador-at-Large to Combat HIV/AIDS
Washington, D.C. - ASM congratulates Dr. John Nkengasong, the Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, on his appointment as Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator of U.S. Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally. President Joe Biden first announced his intent to nominate Nkengasong for the position last fall, and on May 5, 2022, the Senate confirmed his appointment.
In this position, Nkengasong will lead the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a commitment that aims to mitigate the spread of HIV infections and works to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide.
“We are so pleased to acknowledge and congratulate Nkengasong on his appointment as Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator of U.S. Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally. His expertise and leadership will be a boon to the global HIV response,” said ASM CEO Stefano Bertuzzi.
Nkengasong previously served as co-chair of the PEPFAR’s Laboratory Technical Working Group, chief of the International Laboratory Branch for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Global HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis and acting deputy director for the CDC’s Center for Global Health.
Nkengasong also served as a committee member for ASM’s “Committee on Sustainable Development” from 2010 to 2012, where he called on ASM to assist with the establishment of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), which officially launched in 2011, to catalyze development of a sustainable laboratory workforce in Africa to combat HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Today, ASLM has a critical role in building healthy communities across the continent. The collaboration focused on creating the organization’s governance structure (modeled after ASM) and guiding the Society through its initial stages, alongside other international partners.
###
The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of 30,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.
ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences.
