Derek Spencer Email & Phone Number

As Executive Director, I provide oversight, development, and a strategic vision for the FOCUS program in three countries— the U.S., Spain, and Portugal. Leading three Senior Regional Directors and 13 Directors, we identify and support partners through funding to develop and disseminate best practices in HIV, HBV, and HCV screening and linkage to care practices in accordance with national guidelines. I regularly initiate, maintain, and enhance relationships with local, state, and national key influencers. FOCUS contributes significantly to national public health guidelines by working directly with health department, primary care centers, hospitals, academic institutions, and federal institutions such as the CDC. Our efforts change lives on a global scale. We are currently working in 34 states, 83 cities, and in 3 countriesAt Gilead, we are committed to creating a healthier world for everyone. For more than 30 years, Gilead’s has worked to discover, develop, and deliver innovative therapeutics for people with life-threatening diseases. For more information on Gilead, visit https://www.gilead.com/.

Served on the FOCUS Leadership Team while managing a team of 4-5 Regional Directors with responsibility in the US, Portugal, and Spain.

With private funding, I launched an adherence program at the IHV with 4 support staff in 2003. Under my leadership, the program became a multidisciplinary medical clinic with comprehensive services and became the fastest-growing HIV clinic and outreach program at the University of Maryland with over 40 staff. As the Executive Director, I developed and obtained new funding opportunities for the program and maintained a presence in the community to include relationships with funders, local partners, and stakeholders. I strongly believe that ‘if you want to change a city you must engage the city.’ Engagement of multiple sectors of Baltimore’s community including its faith community and the University of Maryland Founding Campus’s academic and clinical programs led to the development of what the White House called a “transformational approach to addressing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.”

I served as an HIV primary care provider at IHV’s first HIV clinic. During this time, I also performed history and physicals in IHV’s clinical research unit, becoming the largest contributor of patient referrals and enrollment to clinical research at the IHV.

Roles ranged from staff nursing to promotion as a senior clinical nurse to assuming the role of an interim nurse manager of a Cardio-Thoracic Surgical Stepdown Unit prior to enrollment in the adult nurse practitioner program at the University of Maryland in 1997.

Master Of Science - Ms, Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Nursing

Associate Of Arts - Aa, Medical Laboratory Technician