GPAC Students Witness Senate Hearing

On April 19, GPAC10 and GPAC11 classes spent the morning on Capitol Hill where they were able to observe a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing. The hearing topic was "PEPFAR at 20: Achieving and Sustaining Epidemic Control.” They heard testimonies from John N. Nkengasong (U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy), Sir Elton John (Founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation), and Dr. Mark Dybul (Professor of Medicine and Chief Strategy Officer at Georgetown University's Medical Center for Global Health Practice and Impact). The testimony outlined the successes of PEPFAR (U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and the continued need for the program as a tool for not only addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic but also as a tool for building infrastructure that has been utilized to address other disease outbreaks around the world such as COVID-19 and ebola. Students also heard questions from Senators Robert Menendez, James Risch, Tim Kaine, and Cory Booker, which helped them better understand how the committee gathers information. It was an inspiring day, and the GPAC program appreciates the support of Claire Figel, a Potomac alum, who works with the committee and helped organize the day!