AIDS agency picks new leader; City provider has refocused its mission.

Byline: Richard Nangle

WORCESTER - At a time when new diagnoses of HIV are continuing unabated and funding is harder to come by, AIDS Project Worcester, the largest AIDS service provider in Central Massachusetts, has refocused its mission and hired a new leader.

Joseph D. McKee, 55, an epidemiologist who has been with the nonprofit for 12 years in various capacities and most recently as deputy director, has agreed to become its fourth executive director.

Mr. McKee recently initiated a collaboration with officials and service providers in Ukraine, where the rate of HIV infection is 18 times that of the United States.

David Bunker, chairman of the AIDS Project Worcester board of directors, said it was that kind of dedication and forethought that prompted the board to hire Mr. McKee rather than conduct an executive search. He replaces Edla L. Bloom, who is now director of development for Abby's House, a shelter for homeless, battered and low-income women. Ms. Bloom resigned from AIDS Project Worcester in January.

"We're thrilled that he said yes," Mr. Bunker said. "We have a board meeting for (tonight) and there will be a motion to ratify his appointment." Mr. Bunker said he expects a unanimous vote.

AIDS Project Worcester operates on an annual budget of $1.5 million that includes both a public and private component. But state funding has been little better than stagnant in recent years, federal funding is getting harder to come by and private donations are way down from the years when AIDS was the disease du jour.

Mr. Bunker said this year's AIDS walk, which was delayed from its usual springtime date, may coincide with World AIDS Week around Dec. 1. The agency is marking its 20th anniversary with a November art-related fundraiser and a formal dinner early next year.

The agency serves about 500 people with HIV and AIDS and another 1,700 to 2,000 affected family members and friends of those clients.

Mr. McKee, who lives in Marlboro, said he decided to take the job after the AIDS Project Worcester board adopted a series of initiatives that will further integrate it with staff members. The agency has adopted a multi-pronged strategic plan that he said will serve it well in the coming years.

"I very much respect and honor the people I work with here," he said. "I chose at this time to accept this position because I am so impressed with the level of service and the level of commitment of the staff here.

"We as a nation have not had a good history in looking at stigmatizing and discrimination factors that have allowed this disease to continue to spread and jump from population group to population group since its inception," Mr. McKee said. He added that some people in Worcester still refuse to be tested out of fear of the outcome and how they will be viewed by their family, friends and employers if they turn out to be infected.

"That's a real tragedy 25 years into this pandemic in this country," he said.

Mr. McKee and Mr. Bunker will be co-chairmen of the new strategic planning commission and develop a new agency, which will seek grant money for the agency's work in Ukraine. The Ukraine program has taken neither time nor money away from the agency and its commitment to the Central Massachusetts region, Mr. McKee said.

"At least in terms of a joint initiative, it gives us inroads into grant-making foundations; this is our tie-in," Mr. Bunker said of the strategic plan. "We have 25 years of experience with this disease in the U.S. and we have made inroads. To the extent we can share that knowledge and save some steps to countries facing the crisis now, I think it's our obligation to do this."

The agency will concentrate on reaching out to the city and region's growing community of African, Portuguese, Asian and island immigrants.

"We are focusing on ways in which we can better connect in a culturally competent way with these emerging communities," Mr. Bunker said.

Another focus will be on staff members, who Mr. Bunker readily admits are low paid. The average staffer has been with the agency six years, which Mr. Bunker said is comparatively long, given the pay and benefits AIDS Project Worcester can offer.

In Ukraine, AIDS Project Worcester and a team of experts from Central Massachusetts have been helping the city of Cherkasy, population 400,000, to address its growing rate of HIV. Mr. McKee has traveled to the city several times.

In the United States about 1 out of every 300 people have HIV. The number is higher in Worcester, about 1 in 175. Mr. McKee said the rate in Ukraine is 6 of every 100.

"And almost none have access to medicine," Mr. McKee said. "We have an ethical obligation, also a moral obligation to help. We have information that may help save people's lives and there's a moral obligation as human beings to share that."

As executive director, Mr. McKee said he wants the staff and clientele of the agency to see him as someone who is an advocate.

"What I want them to see is someone who has an understanding about what it is like to have this disease and live with this disease," he said, "someone who is compassionate and non-judgmental in dealing with people and the circumstances in their lives."

Contact Richard Nangle by e-mail at [e-mail].

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Joseph D. McKee, who has been deputy director AIDS Project Worcester, has agreed to become the executive director of the agency.

PHOTOG: T&G File Photo/TOM RETTIG