Nonprofit Executive of the Year – Finalist
Michael J. Gifford
President and CEO, AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
Innovation drives Michael J. Gifford’s tenure as president and chief executive officer of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. He developed the HIV medical home model, where all of a patient’s medical, dental, mental health and social services needs could be comprehensively addressed in one place.
He also recognized that medication availability and affordability would be critical to a patient’s treatment, so he created the ARCW Pharmacy. The pharmacy fills all prescriptions for HIV patients and provides coordination of care with their treatment providers.
ARCW is at the forefront of HIV prevention, care and treatment and is dedicated to providing quality medical, dental, mental health and social services for all people with HIV. Gifford has been an employee with ARCW for more than 20 years, and the president and chief executive officer since April 2012.
Gifford also recently led a merger with the AIDS Network in Madison. He successfully combined the staff and operations of both entities, which now have a unified purpose and a stronger, more integrated commitment to the cause.
His innovative approach has helped ensure the best HIV treatment in the country. Through ARCW’s treatment model, which Gifford implemented, 86 percent of its patients experience an undetectable viral load – higher than any other HIV clinic in the country.
