New HIV prevention and research director appointed

By Laura Dudnick

August 14, 2007

A San Francisco doctor specializing in behavioral and biomedical HIV prevention strategies has been named the new Director of HIV Prevention and Research, the San Francisco Department of Public Health has announced.

Dr. Grant Nash Colfax succeeds Interim Prevention Director Tracey Packer. Colfax will begin his role as director on Sept. 4 for the AIDS Office Prevention Section, responsible for leading HIV prevention efforts in San Francisco, according to the public health department.

"Dr. Colfax brings a high level of expertise in both prevention and substance abuse research,'' said Barbara Garcia, Deputy Director of Health and Director of Community Health Programs.

Colfax has spent 10 years in HIV prevention work, including prevention research, outcome evaluation, healthcare delivery and public policy. His research has focused on HIV prevention among men who have sex with men, HIV-positive populations, substance users and homeless persons.

Colfax graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at University of California, San Francisco.

"I am honored to be selected to serve in this position,'' Colfax said. "San Francisco has been a leader in community-based HIV prevention, and I look forward to building on our current prevention efforts.''

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