10/02/2025
Congratulations Dr. William Valenti on an amazing career and enduring positive impact on our community! ❤️
Dr. William Valenti, a nationally recognized HIV/AIDS physician who co-founded the organization that would eventually become Trillium Health, has 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.”
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.
Read the full announcement: https://www.trilliumhealth.org/about-us/news-releases/dr-william-valenti-nationally-recognized-hiv-aids-physician-steps-down-after-decades-of-service