Diary Prequel Package — page 332

White House - Ceremony in the South Court Auditorium of the WH. Speeches by POTUS, Sec. Kerry, Sec. Sebelius, Valerie Jarrett, Cecilia Munoz (Domestic policy Council). Panel with Collins, Gates, Dybul, Chris Beyrer (Hopkins), Amanda Castel (GWU), Kali Lindsey (National Minority Council), and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Minister of Finance of Nigeria). POTUS had announced a reprogramming from within AIDS budget at NIH $100 million over 3 years for a "Cure Initiative". I was asked and gave the final talk of the ceremony on the links between the care continuum and a cure. Very well received. I, of course, am somewhat cynical about a "cure initiative" with no new money. Global Fund Replenishment - Today and tomorrow are the 2 big days for countries to meet here in DC to pledge for the next 3 year cycle of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria. I attended meeting at Willard Hotel where Sec Kerry gave a terrific speech. Dec. 3, 2013 - Hectic but very good day. Started early in AM and went to Reserve Officers Association at one Constitution Avenue, N.E. for a Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, TB, and Malaria had a breakfast. Multiple speeches; Moderated by Mike Gerson; several speakers called me out for my "pioneering work on HIV/AIDS" including Bill Gates, Nancy Pelosi, Mike Gerson and others. I left the meeting at 9:00 AM, went to the AAI Council meeting in Rockville as I do every year to update them on NIAID and then immediately went to DCA to fly to NYC to attend as guest of Bob Seder and Debbie Harmon the Women for Women Gala in honor of Hillary Clinton at the American Museum of Natural History at W 79th Street and Central Park West. I stayed at the Excelsior on W 81st. It was an amazing evening. I was among about 12 people who greeted and had special 'audience" with Hillary Clinton. At my table (#18) was my "dinner date" Cheryl Mills (we are becoming good friend), Virginia Moseley (VP and Deputy Bureau Chief of CNN), Marty Edelman (Counsel to real estate practice - big contributor to Wounded Warriors project), Norma Kamali (Fashion designer - flakey and interesting lady who wants me to come to NYC again and talk to her "health group" about immune enhancing), Nella Domenici (Daughter of Sen. Pete Domenici and sisterin-law to Cheryl Mills), Ngozi Eze Nigeria Country Director for Women for Women), Susan Goldberg (Exec. Editor of Bloomberg News). Also met with Sheryl Sandberg ("Lean in" and COO of Facebook). Also, importantly met Jeff Zients who fixed the computer catastrophe of the role out of Obamacare. Jeff will likely become Economic Advisor to Obama. All-in-all a very festive evening. Clinton gave a great speech. Returned to DC on 6:00 AM on Dec. 4 shuttle in time to be on panel at Georgetown University Copley Lounge of the Global Fund. Was on panel with Eric Goosby, Tom Frieden, Admiral Tim Ziemer (head of the President's Malaria Initiative). My panel moderated by Larry Gostin. Mark Dybul gave very moving speech as Keynote. Dec. 5, 2013 - Meningococcal meningitis breakout among a few students at Princeton and then at UC Santa Barbara. Was on WTOP radio today to discuss. Was Group B for which we do not have an FDA approved vaccine for in the USA. Used in Europe and Australia. FDA giving emergency use authorization for use in Princeton.