South End's MALE Center Merging Corporate Structure with Fenway Health

Two local health resources in Boston for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and for those who are living with HIV/AIDS are merging into one corporate structure, the organizations announced last week.

The Boards of Directors at Fenway Health and AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts (AAC) have voted to enter into a strategic partnership, which will better provide care and services for New England’s growing population of people living with HIV/AIDS, the organizations said in a statement. 

Fenway Health, based in Fenway-Kenmore, has been serving the LGBT community, those with HIV/AIDS and others in the Fenway community for more than 40 years.  The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health is an interdisciplinary center for research, training, education and policy development focusing on national and international health issues. Fenway’s Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center cares for youth and young adults ages 12 to 29 who are dealing with LGBT issues, homeless, struggling with substance abuse, and living with HIV/AIDS.

The AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, based in Jamaica Plain, is the a provider of prevention and wellness services for people vulnerable to HIV infection. It provides services and mental health counseling to those living with an HIV diagnosis. It also runs the South End's MALE Center, a community resource & wellness center for gay and bisexual men.

The organizations say the partnership will allow for more efficient delivery of a more services for patients, enhance disease prevention and expand AIDS Action's education programs and Fenway Health's clinical programs.  

“This partnership will benefit every person living with HIV/AIDS who relies on Fenway or AIDS Action for care or services," said Rebecca Haag, President & CEO of AIDS Action. "By working together more closely, we’ll be able to grow available HIV/AIDS resources and services, and reach more people than either organization has been able to on its own.”

Each organization will retain its own name, brand and non-profit status. Fenway’s Board of Directors will assume fiduciary responsibility and governance of AIDS Action, and an advisory council will be formed. Stephen L. Boswell, MD, Fenway Health’s President & CEO, will continue in that position, and Rebecca Haag will remain as the CEO of AIDS Action Committee.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, it is estimated that 27,000 – 29,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts, and as many as one in five do not know that they are infected. 

“Despite recent successes in reducing the HIV infection rate in Massachusetts, new infections continue to grow among some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Dr. Boswell. “Partnering with AIDS Action will allow Fenway to reach a more diverse group of people living with HIV/AIDS, expanding our practice to provide care for people from new neighborhoods, cities and towns.  It will also allow both organizations to maximize our HIV prevention and education work to help further reduce new HIV infections in Massachusetts and beyond.”

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