Elizabeth Thompson Serlemitsos '93
Chief Advisor
National AIDS Council, Zambia

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Elizabeth Thompson Serlemitsos leads the multisectoral response to HIV and AIDS in Africa as the chief advisor to the Zambian National AIDS Council. Serlemitsos works with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, which provides leadership in strategic, evidence-based communication programs for behavior change to save lives, improve health, and enhance well-being.

Her work to increase funding to Zambia’s fight against HIV/AIDS helped support a program that provides free treatment to all in need. In 2004, there were only 3,000 people being treated for HIV. By the end of 2007, there were over 150,000 people on treatment, meeting more than 50 per cent of the need.

Since 1993, Serlemitsos has worked with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, aside from two years as a technical advisor with USAID. Since 1996, she has worked in Zambia on governmental, non-governmental, and private sector public health initiatives. Interventions have included HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support activities; malaria; maternal and reproductive health; and child health. The focus has been on improved care-seeking behavior and service delivery through a shift to include the provision of information and skills to individuals and the empowerment of communities.

From 1987 to 1990, she served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon.

Serlemitsos earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College, an MPH from Boston University, and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.