Background

Dennis Willms has worked in Africa for over 30 years – principally in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Malawi – and has for the last 15 years concentrated on HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention research. His abiding interest is in translating what has been learned about the social, cultural, and behavioural determinants of HIV risk into relevant programs that meet the needs of those most vulnerable. In addition, Dr. Willms is committed to finding more compelling ways to communicate the reality of these urgent concerns in the West, through stories and film. His impressive list of affiliations includes professional associations with the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), the International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN), the Tanzanian Essential Health Initiatives Program (TEHIP), as well as academic affiliations with Makerere University (Uganda) and the University of Malawi. He is the Founding Director of the Salama SHIELD Foundation – a non-government organization currently registered as a not-for-profit organization in Canada, Malawi, and Uganda.