As a person living with and concerned about HIV, I am enormously grateful to have spent the past 7.5 years of my career nurturing a vibrant and powerful community for social and racial justice at Cascade AIDS Project (CAP). It is therefore with mixed emotions that I announce my plans to step down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to start a new chapter at one of our nation’s oldest and most influential HIV Organizations – San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) - where I have been appointed their next CEO and notably the first BIPOC person to serve in this role in SFAF’s nearly 40-year history. My last day at CAP will be January 28th.

I’ve been a donor and supporter of SFAF for over a decade through my participation in the AIDS/LifeCycle. I couldn’t pass up the amazing opportunity to work with the Foundation in San Francisco as I continue my life’s work to promote health, wellness and social justice for all those impacted by HIV. However, leaving is bittersweet.

It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to be at the helm of CAP over the last 7.5 years. It has truly been rewarding beyond measure. I am proud to have served people affected by HIV, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the bravest and most brilliant colleagues I have ever known, and worked to advance system changes with incalculable positive impact for people and communities that have traditionally been furthest from access and opportunity. My time at CAP has helped me grow as an individual and as a leader and for that I will be eternally grateful and so very proud of all we have accomplished together.

There is never an easy time for a CEO to announce their departure, especially for an organization as innovative as CAP. We are in a time of such great momentum, with so many exciting new initiatives under way and on the horizon. Since that first day that I walked into the doors of CAP in 2014, we have grown from a staff of 55 to 185, from one office in downtown Portland to now post-merger having seven locations across two states, and we have quadrupled the budget of $5.5 million to what will be closer to $24 million post-merger. We are stronger and more resilient. We are more sustainable with greater infrastructure. We are owning the mistakes of our past and investing in critical Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) work. We are further reaching and creating greater impact for all those seeking compassionate care!

With your support we were able to launch Prism Health, Oregon’s premiere LGBTQ+ health center, provide affirming and welcoming primary care. In response to COVID-19, we partnered with Esther’s Pantry to address food insecurity, and increased emergency rental assistance and medical motel vouchers. Recently, we championed the Data Justice Act and made Oregon the first state to require data collection of a patient’s race, ethnicity, language, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity to help address health disparities. And on January 1st the merger with Our House of Portland will be complete, which will consolidate resources and enable us to provide greater assistance to those living with HIV in Oregon and SW Washington.

Emily Gilliland will serve as the interim CEO while the CAP Board of Directors conducts a national search for the next CEO. The search committee will include members of CAP staff, stakeholders and the LGBTQIA+ community. The goal is to hire a new CEO by the Fall of 2022.

CAP is incredibly fortunate to rely on a talented staff and deep bench of stalwart leaders who advance our mission every day through their contributions in and out of our organization. I have the utmost confidence that the amazing work and impact of CAP, Our House of Portland, and Prism Health and all of the exciting new initiatives planned in 2022 and beyond will continue to thrive and move forward during this leadership transition.

CAP is poised to continue its momentum and growth with a clear strategic plan, equity plan, and business growth plan for Prism Health. Although I’ll miss being part of that work, I am confident that you’ll get the job done and exceed all expectations. We’ll hold a gathering before I leave (TBD) and I hope to see you in person.

Thank you for letting me be part of your success.

Dr. Tyler TerMeer

A Note from the CAP Board President, Karol Collymore:
“It's been an honor for me to work with and support Tyler for over seven years at CAP and Prism Health. To watch this organization blossom into a healthcare leader in Oregon and Southwest Washington with Tyler at the helm is incredible and solidifies that care centered around LGBTQIA+ communities can lead to valuable change. I'm sad to see him leave but so proud of his next professional journey.”

About Cascade AIDS Project

CAP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis. As the oldest and largest community-based HIV services provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, we seek to support and empower all people with or affected by HIV, reduce stigma, and provide the LGBTQ+ community with compassionate healthcare. We do so by helping to ensure the health and well-being of our program participants each year through health, housing, and other social services. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017. More information can be found at www.capnw.org.

About Prism Health

Prism Health provides high quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all, with a focus on serving individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus all other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ+). All of Prism services aim to reach the most vulnerable – those living below the poverty line, communities of color, homeless or unstably housed individuals, and people experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues.