Carlos Perez, HIV-TPC
HIV Testing & Prevention
Program Coordinator
(he/him/él)

Carlos recently moved to Southern Illinois from Chicago after retiring from over 25 years of work as an advocate, case manager, writer, editor and health educator in the HIV field of Public Health. He has a Bachelors from Columbia College in Marketing/PR with a minor in Sound Engineering. Carlos was resident DJ at The Phoenix Disco and other clubs from 1979 through 1995.

His interest in working in the HIV field began when he tested positive while working for The AMA (American Medical Association) in 1984 because he heard from physicians wanting to switch practices from invasive to non-invasive because even they were afraid to work with HIV-positive people. After a few years on disability, he was hired by BEHIV in Evanston, IL, as Administrative Assistant where he opened BEHIV’s first office in Chicago in Roger’s Park. Later, Carlos began working with Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) as Volunteer Coordinator and then as the Editor of The Ryan White HIV Services Directory For The Chicago Area and translated its first Spanish version. He also authored a monthly column called "My Kind Of Life" published by Positively Aware.

While working for TPAN with volunteers and clients, Carlos’ interest in becoming a Case Manager became another goal and he began training at AIDS Foundation. He also worked as Research Assistant in a CDC study at Mt Sinai Hospital on Orasure Quick Technologies to see how their quick HIV test would work in a hospital setting. Carlos then worked for Heartland in Chicago as HIV Case Manager/Tester and ran a bi-monthly educational meeting for Heartland clients focused on quality of care and life and self-advocacy.

Carlos is now the Program Coordinator for HIV Testing & Prevention services at RCHW. We are honored to have him as an incredible resource at RCHW. Carlos uses his own lived experiences and work history to provide information and insight to our team and community in his role as Program Coordinator. If you are considering getting tested for HIV, please reach out to Carlos.

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Contact Carlos

Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: 1-5 Tuesdays and Wednesdays
120 N Illinois Ave
Carbondale IL 62901

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