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Senior Leadership TeamCharles (Chip) Lyons 
President and Chief Executive Officer

President and Chief Executive Officer Charles (Chip) Lyons joined the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in January 2010 after many years managing and developing programs for leading global nonprofits. With a professional emphasis on children’s welfare, HIV/AIDS, and global development, Chip brings to the Foundation a commitment to support those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. In his role as President and CEO, Chip is responsible for the strategic, programmatic, fundraising, financial, and management operations of the organization.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Chip was Director of Special Initiatives in the Global Development Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he led a team dedicated to global poverty reduction. Prior to his work at the Gates Foundation, Chip spent more than 20 years in increasingly prominent roles with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to include program officer, UNICEF Mozambique; chief of staff to the executive director at UNICEF headquarters; and president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. A longtime advocate for global health, Chip is a member of the Human Rights Watch Health and Human Rights Advisory Committee and worked from its inception to develop the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), serving on the Board of the GAVI Fund and chairing its executive committee from 2004 to 2006.

Chip studied political economy at the New School for Social Research in New York and has a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in Minnesota.

Nicholas Hellmann, M.D.
Executive Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs

Executive Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs Dr. Nicholas Hellmann is responsible for providing strategic direction for the Foundation’s programs and research initiatives, ensuring that children are at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Hellmann played key leadership roles, primarily focused on HIV/AIDS, at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, ViroLogic, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Roche Molecular Systems, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute. He received his M.D. from the University of Kentucky and served as an assistant professor in the Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases Division at the University of California, San Francisco.

Alan Greenberg, M.D., M.P.H.
Senior Technical Advisor to the CEO

Dr. Alan Greenberg is principal investigator of the George Washington University–Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Partnership for Pediatric AIDS. Dr. Greenberg serves as senior technical advisor to the Foundation’s President and CEO. In addition, Dr. Greenberg holds several professorships within the George Washington School for Public Health and Health Services. Prior to joining George Washington, he spent two decades at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he provided scientific leadership for its domestic and international HIV epidemiologic research program. Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine in 1982 and his masters in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health in 1999.

Cathy Wilfert, M.D.
Scientific Director Emerita

Dr. Cathy Wilfert spearheads the Foundation’s PMTCT programs, and has been instrumental in encouraging other scientists throughout the world to focus their investigations on pediatric HIV/AIDS. A faculty member at Duke University Medical Center for 38 years, her national leadership roles have included chairmanship of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control, membership in the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the presidency of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, editorial boards of eight professional journals, plus numerous awards and special recognitions, including the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) Leadership Award. 

Carlos Carrazana, M.B.A., M.P.H.
Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer Carlos Carrazana has over 20 years of experience working with government agencies, foundations, civil society, and commercial firms to design and implement programs to improve health care services in vulnerable and underserved populations around the world. Carrazana came to the Foundation in April 2008 from business research and consulting firm Abt Associates, where he served five years as vice president of health services and private sector alliances for Abt’s international division. Prior to his tenure at Abt, Carrazana served at Deloitte Touche Tohamatsu’s emerging markets division as director of the Summa Foundation, where his primary focus was establishing and enhancing the organization’s infrastructure.

Laura Guay, M.D.
Vice President of Research

Dr. Laura Guay serves a dual appointment as vice president for research at the Foundation and research professor at The George Washington University (GWU) School of Public Health and Health Services. Dr. Guay received her M.D. from GWU in 1985, and went on to a pediatrics residency at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Guay was a visiting lecturer at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, from 1988 to 1991, and then returned to CWRU to complete her fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases. She then spent seven more years in Uganda, where she worked on the landmark HIVNET 012 trial, which determined the effectiveness of single-dose nevirapine in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Prior to joining GWU, Dr. Guay was a member of the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Most recently, her research has focused on reducing the rate of HIV transmission in breast-feeding infants and on the testing of an HIV vaccine in infants.

Maurice Adams, Ph.D.
Vice President, Africa Country Management

Vice President for Africa Country Management Dr. Maurice Adams is based at the Johannesburg, South Africa, office, responsible for overseeing the management of strategic operations across the Foundation’s Africa country programs. Dr. Adams joined the Foundation in 2003 as the country director for Zimbabwe. Prior to this, he was Chief of Party for a USAID/CDC-supported program in Uganda, and in Zimbabwe he held the positions of program officer for UNICEF and director for the U.K. group, VSO. With more than 20 years of international experience, 12 of these located in East and Southern Africa, Dr. Adams holds a Ph.D. in management and human development, an M.A. in management of international non-government organizations, and degrees in social work and community health.

Trish Devine Karlin
Vice President, Program Implementation

Vice President of Programs Trish Karlin is responsible for program operations and planning; program and resource management; and program design, strategy, reporting, outcomes, and communications. During her 15-year tenure at the Foundation, she has helped the Foundation to establish several notable current programs. Before joining the Foundation, Karlin worked for the California State Controller’s Office and served as Executive Director of the John M. Lloyd Foundation, where she is currently a board member.

Tami Ward-Dahl
Vice President, Human Resources and Administration

Vice President of Human Resources and Administration Tami L. Ward-Dahl is responsible for developing and managing the overall strategic human resource systems, practices, and approaches to support the Foundation’s organizational growth and development. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ward-Dahl held executive positions at Ruesch International, IOMEGA Corporation, and OTC Division. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, a Global Professional in Human Resources, and a Certified Compensation Professional.

Elizabeth Penniman
Vice President, Public Policy, Advocacy, and Communications

Vice President for Public Policy, Advocacy, and Communications Elizabeth Penniman has spent more than 20 years in senior communications and public policy positions for corporations, government, and non-profit organizations. She has worked in the fields of domestic and international politics and policy, including positions at the White House, the National Security Council, the State Department, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She served as executive director of a national nonprofit organization to raise awareness of violence against children; as vice president of corporate communications for NeuStar, a global telecommunications company; and most recently, as a senior communications consultant with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Penniman has received numerous commendations for her work in public health and civil service.

Richard Marlink, M.D.
Senior Advisor for Medical and Scientific Affairs

Dr. Richard Marlink oversees the Foundation’s efforts to expand global HIV/AIDS care and treatment services, including antiretroviral treatment. Currently a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Marlink was part of the team that initially identified HIV-2, the second AIDS virus, and he helped coordinate research concerning the clinical and biologic characteristics of both HIV-1 and HIV-2. In addition to a number of Botswana clinical studies in which he participates, Dr. Marlink is the principal investigator of Botswana's first large-scale antiretroviral treatment study.

Additional Foundation Experts
Stephen Lee, M.D.
Senior Program Director, Prevention, Care and Treatment Services

Dr. Stephen Lee is the Senior Program Director, Prevention, Care and Treatment Services, at the Foundation. Dr. Lee is responsible for Foundation program development and evaluation, managing the development and implementation of programs that provide prevention, care, and treatment services to individuals affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. Dr. Lee’s areas of expertise are HIV care, treatment, and support; antiretroviral therapy; integration and linkage of health services; and community mobilization and involvement. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Lee acted as Senior Advisor for HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment, in the Bureau of Global Health at USAID. There he supported HIV/AIDS care and treatment program development, evaluated existing HIV/AIDS programs and policies, and analyzed HIV/AIDS research. Additionally, Dr. Lee worked as an HIV/AIDS Infectious Disease Advisor for USAID, focusing on disease prevention and monitoring throughout Europe and Eurasia. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Baylor University, a degree in medicine from Emory University School of Medicine, and a post graduate diploma in health systems management from the University of London, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Clare Dowling Dougherty 
Director, Public Policy and AdvocacyClare Dowling Dougherty is the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Foundation. In her role, Dougherty is responsible for managing both domestic and global public policy and advocacy initiatives and strengthening the Foundation’s role as a worldwide leader on the topic of pediatric AIDS. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dougherty worked as the Director of International Programs for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids where she oversaw the organization’s efforts on the first global health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and led a team in pursuing global partnerships. Dougherty received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston University and a master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy from Hunter College.

Jeffrey T. Safrit, Ph.D
Director, Clinical and Basic Research  Jeffrey T. Safrit, Ph.D., is the Director of Clinical and Basic Research for the Foundation. Involved in HIV/AIDS research since 1991, Dr. Safrit worked with the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Bristol Meyers Squibb, and Emory University, prior to joining the Foundation in 2001. Throughout his tenure with the Foundation, Dr. Safrit has held many posts in the HIV/AIDS research community including Advisor to the Office of AIDS Research on HIV vaccine research priorities; Expert Advisor to the Pediatric, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS Branch of the NICHD; and member of the organizing or scientific committees for the annual AIDS Vaccine Conferences. Dr. Safrit received his Ph.D. in immunology from University of California, Los Angeles, and has authored more than 35 publications in HIV immunology and pediatric vaccine issues.
Christian Pitter, M.D., M.P.H.
Director, Global Technical Policy UnitDr. Christian Pitter is a pediatrician and director of the Foundation’s Global Technical Policy Unit, responsible for the development, dissemination, and implementation of global technical policies and standards. Dr. Pitter also serves as an assistant adjunct professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Pitter served as the principal advisor for antiretroviral treatment programs for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global AIDS Program in Uganda. He has also served as an advisor to the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other organizations. Dr. Pitter completed his undergraduate education at Yale University, earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine, and received his master's in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health.