Univ. of California-SF Medical School Dean Appointed to UN AIDS Panel

The retiring dean of the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine said Wednesday he has accepted an appointment to a new United Nations commission charged with examining the impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa. The UN Commission for HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa will work with African governments on how to combat the epidemic. "I think it's the worst crisis in human history," said Dr. Haile Debas, a native of Eritrea who has been the medical school's dean since 1993. The announcement of Debas' appointment comes as President Bush tours Africa and, among other things, promotes his $15 billion package to fight AIDS there. Dr. David Kessler, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, will replace Debas on August 31. The new commission's first meeting will take place in September, Debas said.

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