Dr. Charles Gonzalez is an Immunologist and Infectious Diseases specialist and Medical Director of the New York State Department of Health’s AIDS Institute. After completing medical school (Columbia University), residency (NYU-Bellevue) and infectious diseases and pharmacology fellowships (both at Yale), Charles directed immunology and HIV research in his laboratory at NYU as well as investigated Hepatitis C therapies and HIV medications and vaccines as part of the NIH AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Charles is the chief clinical officer for ADAP, STI, Hepatitis B & C, HIV and PrEP at the AIDS Institute, and a believer in Syndemics, he considers himself a ‘happy warrior’ in the Ending the Epidemic battle in New York State.