Gail Barouh PhD LIAAC was the President and CEO of “The Long Island Association for AIDS Care” from the time it was founded in 1987 until her retirement in June 2017. Over these years, Dr. Barouh has helped LIAAC rapidly grow. Currently, LIAAC helps well over 1,000 clients across Long Island who is suffering from HIV/AIDS as well as their loved ones. Dr. Barouh developed Long Island’s first support groups for family members and close loved ones of those suffering with HIV/AIDS.
Education
She holds a PhD in Health Administration and a M.A. in Health Education Counselling. She is an active contributor to community service organizations on Long Island. She serves on many boards and councils including “Association of New York State Community Service Providers”, “New York AIDS Coalition”, “New York State Regional Community Service Programs” (CSP) and many more
LIAAC
LIAAC is a community-based, non-profit agency that provides support and services for Long Islanders having “Asthma, Heart Problems, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Obesity”. It provides services for those at high risk for HIV infection and other chronic and infectious diseases. The staff uses a wide assortment of resources in the community to refer as well as arrange for their clients to get medical treatment, supportive help, and assist them by helping them navigating through an often intimidating and difficult health care and social services system.
HIV/AIDS
LIAAC was this country’s first suburban based agency serving Long Island with HIV/AIDS care as well as prevention as its core mission and founding purpose. During this time, it also had to suppress inaccurate, harmful stereotypes that portrayed all Long Islanders as healthy, affluent, and not as vulnerable to HIV or other harmful diseases as those residents of neighbouring New York City. LIAAC also provides the region’s only HIV/AIDS Hotline
Dr. Barouh now
Today, Gail Barouh is continuing her work as a LGBTQ advocate and is a consultant specializing in human resources and crisis management. She lectures and has published her first book, her experiences in this field are expressed in her book, “Support Groups: The Human Face of the HIV/AIDS Bereavement.”
