Our Advocacy

Ernest Hopkins leads the San Francisco AIDS Foundation national policy and legislative activities at the federal administrative and congressional levels, seeking appropriate levels of resource and sound public health policies that promote the health and wellness of San Franciscans living with and at risk for HIV.

Ernest marked 20 years at SFAF in 2017 having led federal policy and legislative activities since 1997. Prior to joining SFAF, Ernest was the director of health and treatment at the National Association for People with AIDS (NAPWA) in Washington, DC where he led clinical trial review and consultation at the inception of HIV antiretroviral development and availability, advocating for safety, effectiveness and affordability. Ernest leads and has led national advocacy coalitions like the National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition (NBGMAC) and the Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR). He has testified before congressional committees and advised Congress on legislative initiatives, earning him the Congressional Black Caucus's Leadership Award.

Courtney Mulhern-Pearson, M.P.H. is responsible for directing local and statewide policy work at San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Courtney leads partnership opportunities related to health care reform and advocates for full funding of vital HIV care and prevention programs in the California and San Francisco budgets as well as legislation to assure appropriate state and local policy responses to the HIV epidemic.

Prior to joining SFAF, Courtney worked at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the implementation of Medicare Part D, with a focus on transitioning people with HIV and providing outreach to their providers. She received her master's in public health with an emphasis on health policy from the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley.