David Y. Ige

 

 

Peter Whiticar honored with NASTAD Lifetime Achievement Award

for leadership in HIV and hepatitis prevention

 

HONOLULU – Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Branch Chief Peter Whiticar has been honored with the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) at a ceremony held in Washington DC in May. Chief of department’s Harm Reduction Services Branch, Whiticar was recognized for his many years of passionate leadership, commitment and dedication in working to improve the lives of people living with HIV and hepatitis and for his tireless service and devotion to NASTAD.

 

Whiticar is a resident of East Honolulu and has 24 years of public service with the State of Hawai‘i. Health Director Bruce Anderson noted, “Peter is a very talented leader who has great compassion for people who are at risk for HIV infection. His insightfulness, tremendous organizational skills, energy and direction are major reasons why Hawai‘i has a low-incidence for HIV infection.”

 

“Peter is a long-time member of NASTAD, and he has educated colleagues and federal funders about the importance of investing in core public health infrastructure,” said Murray Penner, NASTAD Executive Director. “He is one of the original founding members of NASTAD, a long-time member of the Board of Directors, and an outspoken representative on behalf of fellow states, and, in particular, low incidence jurisdictions and the Pacific Islands region. Throughout his career, Peter has been committed to addressing societal injustices that drive health disparities.” 

 

NASTAD’s Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to current or former state health department HIV or hepatitis directors and/or senior staff members who have dedicated their career to working in state government to address the HIV and/or viral hepatitis epidemics.

 

Whiticar has received numerous awards and recognition including the Dr. Nicholas A. Rango Award from NASTAD for exemplary national leadership in HIV/AIDS efforts and the designation of State of Hawai‘i Public Health Hero from the nonprofit United Health Foundation, which provides “America’s Health Rankings.” In 2015, Whiticar’s “HIV Data to Care Team” received the State Team of the Year Award from Governor David Ige.

 

The Harm Reduction Services Branch of DOH, which was previously the STD/AIDS Prevention Branch, provides statewide leadership and coordination for the prevention, treatment, care and surveillance of HIV, sexually transmitted infections and adult viral hepatitis, and administers the state’s medical cannabis patient registry. Whiticar has been branch chief since 1994.

  

NASTAD is a leading non-profit, non-partisan association that represents public health officials who administer HIV and hepatitis programs in the U.S. and around the world.

###

 

Media Contact:

Janice Okubo
Communications Office
Phone: (808) 586-4445