Draft:William Valenti

William M. “Bill” Valenti, M.D. (born June 20, 1945) is an American infectious diseases physician, clinical virologist, and medical writer. He is known for his involvement in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, his early advocacy for community-based HIV services in Rochester, New York, and for co-founding Community Health Network (now Trillium Health) in 1989 ^[1]. He has held clinical and teaching positions at the University of Rochester Medical Center and has served as a consultant to state and federal public health agencies. ^[2]

Valenti was born and raised in Rochester, New York. He developed an early interest in medicine influenced by his uncle, family physician Dr. James Chiappetta ^[1]. As a child, he participated in early Salk polio vaccine trials, which contributed to his interest in infectious diseases and public health.

He received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1968 and an M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1972. Valenti completed residency and fellowship training in infectious diseases at the University of Rochester.

Valenti joined the University of Rochester Medical Center following his fellowship, holding several clinical and academic roles. He served as Strong Memorial Hospital’s first hospital epidemiologist from 1977 to 1988.^[1]

In this capacity, he focused on nosocomial viral infections and contributed to research on viral transmission and infection-control practices in healthcare settings. ^[2]

During this period, he co-authored a series of papers that examined viral spread in hospitals and strategies for prevention.^[3] These publications drew attention to the role of respiratory and other viral pathogens in hospital-acquired infections, a topic that had previously received limited focus relative to bacterial infections. ^[4][5][3]

Valenti became involved in HIV/AIDS care and community advocacy early in the epidemic. Beginning in 1981, he participated in local initiatives addressing HIV prevention, patient services, and public education. He was a co-founder of AIDS Rochester, the Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS, and Helping People With AIDS, a volunteer fundraising organization whose archival records have since been acquired by the Smithsonian Institution.^[6]

He has been involved in state and national HIV policy discussions and contributed to programs aimed at expanding access to HIV testing, prevention technologies, and early treatment.

In 1989, Valenti co-founded Community Health Network (CHN) with University of Rochester colleagues Steven Scheibel, Carol Williams, and Sidney Metzger.^[7] CHN was established to provide integrated, community-based clinical services for people living with HIV/AIDS at a time when such services were limited in Upstate New York. ^[8]

CHN later evolved into Trillium Health, an organization that expanded its scope to include primary care, LGBTQ+ health services, and sexual health programs.^[9] Under its model of early intervention, Trillium Health implemented rapid-start antiretroviral therapy and long-acting injectable HIV treatment and prevention programs.^[10][11]

In 2024, Trillium Health was designated a Federally Qualified Health Center.^[12]

Valenti has served as a consultant and advisor to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health, focusing on HIV treatment, public health strategy, and infection-control policy.^[13]

Since 2014, he has been a member of New York State’s Ending the Epidemic Task Force^[14], contributing to statewide HIV prevention and treatment initiatives.

He has also served as Chair of the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Medical Society of the State of New York^[15], is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)^[16], and is a member of the HIV Medicine Association.

Valenti’s research has included clinical studies on antiretroviral therapies from the early use of zidovudine (AZT) in the 1980s to present-day trials involving long-acting injectable treatments for HIV.^[17] He has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed articles on nosocomial viral infections, HIV clinical care, and public health intervention.^[2][3][4][5].

Peer-Reviewed Articles:

• Valenti WM, Et Al:  Nosocomial Viral Infections: I. Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Respiratory Viruses, Herpesviruses, and Hepatitis Viruses | Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology | Cambridge Core Infect Cont 1:33-37, 198
• Valenti WM, Et Al: Nosocomial viral infections: II. Guidelines for prevention and control of respiratory viruses, herpes viruses, and hepatitis viruses. Infect Cont 2:38-49, 1980.
• Valenti WM, Et Al:  Nosocomial viral infections:  III. Guidelines for prevention and control of exanthematous viruses, gastroenteritis viruses, picornaviruses, uncommonly seen viruses and other considerations. Infect Cont 2:38-49, 1980.
• Valenti, WM, Menegus MA: Nosocomial Viral Infections: IV. Guidelines for Cohort Isolation, the Communicable Disease Survey, Collection and Transport of Specimens for Virus Isolation, and Considerations for the Future | Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology | Cambridge Core Infect Cont 2:236-45, 1980

Memoir:

• Valenti, William M. (2017). AIDS: A Matter of Urgency. Rochester, New York: [Dr. Bill Media, LLC.]. ISBN 978-0998438306.

Valenti has received recognition for his contributions to infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS care, and public health. In 2022, he was recognized by the American Medical Association Foundation as one of six physicians honored for contributions to healthcare and community service.^[9]

Other recognitions include regional public health awards and acknowledgments from community organizations involved in HIV/AIDS services, such as the New York State Liberty Medal, presented to Valenti from Senator Jeremy Cooney^[18], the Linda Laubenstein HIV Clinical Excellence Award, ^[19], and the Key to the City of Rochester, New York.^[20]

Valenti will step down from his duties at Trillium Health in 2026.^[21] He plans to remain involved with the newly formed Trillium Health Foundation and continue his service on the boards of the Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Rochester Academy of Medicine.