Oct 2, 2025
October 2, 2025 (Rochester, NY) – Dr. William Valenti, a nationally recognized HIV/AIDS physician who co-founded the organization that would eventually become Trillium Health, announced that he will be stepping down from his position after a long and distinguished career.
Dr. Valenti co-founded Community Health Network in 1989 – an HIV/AIDS clinic that served patients during a time of widespread fear, uncertainty, and stigma against the LGBTQ+ community. He stood at the front lines of the HIV/AIDS crisis for decades – shaping the region’s medical response, advising federal and state health agencies, and supporting research that led to advances in treatment and prevention. Over the years, Community Health Network evolved to become Trillium Health, which is now a Federally Qualified Health Center serving 20,000 patients and clients across Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes.
“Dr. Valenti has been the heart and soul of HIV care in Rochester for over 40 years,” said Jason Barnecut-Kearns, President and CEO of Trillium Health. “His leadership, vision, and courage helped to build an organization that has served as a lifeline for thousands of people. In addition, his influence has extended far beyond Trillium Health – he served as an advisor to the CDC and the New York State Department of Health, and he contributed to research that transformed AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable disease. We thank Dr. Valenti for his decades of service and we will continue to build upon the legacy that he is leaving behind.”
Medical Career and Co-Founding of Community Health Network
A life-long Rochester resident, Dr. Valenti began his medical career at the University of Rochester, where he held various teaching and clinical positions, including serving as the first hospital epidemiologist at Strong Memorial Hospital from 1977 to 1988.
Since the emergence of AIDS in 1981, Dr. Valenti helped to define the Rochester community’s response to AIDS. He was a co-founder of AIDS Rochester, and he was a member of the Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS and Helping People with AIDS – a local fundraising group whose archives are now in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
Dr. Valenti co-founded Community Health Network in 1989 with colleagues from the University of Rochester – Dr. Steven Scheibel, Carol Williams, and Sidney Metzger. Community Health Network was designed to meet the increasing need for community-based specialized healthcare services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Throughout his career, Dr. Valenti has been an advocate for combining the “art and science of medicine” in the best interests of his patients. He participated in early clinical trials, advocated for faster drug approvals, and helped to introduce a “one-stop-shop” model that combined medical care and supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Over time, Community Health Network evolved to become Trillium Health, which expanded its services in 2016 to include primary care and supportive services for everyone in the Greater Rochester area. In 2025, Trillium Health was designated a Federally Qualified Health Center, which allowed the organization to access additional resources and serve more patients.
Consultations and Research
Throughout his career, Dr. Valenti has served as advisor and consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health, focusing on infection control and HIV prevention and treatment. Since 2014, he has been an active member of New York State’s Task Force to End the HIV/AIDS Epidemic.
Additionally, Dr. Valenti has served as Chair of the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Medical Society of the State of New York since 2009, is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and is a member of the HIV Medicine Association.
Dr. Valenti has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and scientific abstracts on HIV medical care, infectious diseases, healthcare epidemiology, and infection control. Dr. Valenti’s HIV research has included antiretroviral therapies from AZT – the first drug approved for HIV treatment in 1987 – to injectable medications for HIV treatment and prevention in 2025.
Awards, Recognition and Memoir
Dr. Valenti has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Edward Mott Moore Award from the Monroe County Medical Society and the Dr. Linda Laubenstein Award for Excellence in HIV Care from the New York State AIDS Institute. He was also honored as one of six U.S. physicians making a difference in medicine by the AMA Foundation.
In 2017, Dr. Valenti authored AIDS: A Matter of Urgency, a memoir reflecting on his experiences during the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Reflections and Next Steps
“It’s been a rare opportunity to watch AIDS emerge out of the blue and then participate continuously in the movement to get ahead of it,” said Dr. William Valenti. “As I start this next chapter, I will continue to support Trillium Health’s efforts to End the Epidemic and provide compassionate, judgement-free healthcare to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.”
Dr. Valenti will continue to serve on the boards of the Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Rochester Academy of Medicine. He will also support Trillium Health’s mission through the Trillium Health Foundation.
Career Celebration and World AIDS Day Fundraiser
Trillium Health will celebrate Dr. Valenti’s career with a ceremony and a fundraiser in honor of World AIDS Day, which will take place on December 11, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester. More information will be posted on the Trillium Health Foundation’s website: https://www.trilliumhealth.org/foundation/world-aids-day-2025.
About Trillium Health
Trillium Health is a community health center that provides compassionate, judgement-free, and affordable care. With deep roots in the LGBTQ+ community, Trillium Health is dedicated to reducing health disparities by providing access to high-quality healthcare to everyone in the Greater Rochester area. For more information, please visit trilliumhealth.org.