The world has lost one of its most influential and admired community HIV advocates.  Martin established Project Inform in San Francisco in the early years of the HIV epidemic, as a direct response to the loss of his partner to AIDS.  Martin?s vision for Project Inform was to empower HIV positive people and others affected with information about HIV and its treatment, so that they could make the best choices about the health care. 

Year after year, Martin travelled all over the USA and elsewhere presenting his ?Town Hall Meetings?, where he updated people with HIV and those affected with the latest information about treatment and research trends.  His presentations were always accessible and informative ? he was a great communicator - and I have no doubt they resulted in better health outcomes for thousands and thousands of people by giving them the information to be able to navigate the often daunting health and research arena.

For more than 20 years, the Project Inform telephone information hotline has been the main community based source of information for HIV positive people in the USA.  Project Inform also plays a key role in advocacy on treatments access, standards of care and scientific research.  Its website is accessed by thousands of people all over the world every day.

Martin visited Australia on a number of occasions, including for an ASHM conference.  He was a inspiration to Australian community advocates as we began the work of trying to set up community based treatment and research information services in Australia.  Over the years he offered advice and support to many HIV advocates around the world, including myself.  Just recently, he challenged the world HIV movement not to simply accept the current treatments we have as the best that can be achieved, but to keep pushing hard for a cure.

A tribute on the Project Inform website says it all - ?Intellect, activist, diplomat, mentor, friend ? each of us will remember Marty for the great attributes he brought to his lifesaving work. We will miss him terribly.?

Written by: Bill Whittaker