John Peller, MPP 2000
Pushing for Solutions
John Peller’s passion for his work is obvious and undoubtedly crucial to his role as director of government relations for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC). He serves as the state lobbyist for the only organization focused full-time on HIV/AIDS advocacy in Springfield.
“The HIV field is compelling because I know so many people impacted by the disease, and I know so many people living with it,” explained Peller, MPP’00. “And as a gay man it’s near and dear to my heart.”
Much of Peller’s work involves engaging and educating Illinois lawmakers about the epidemic’s effects and the need for more funding for treatment and prevention. He also heads up the organization’s public policy community education work. This includes keeping staff at HIV/AIDS service agencies abreast of policy developments, gathering input on policy initiatives from people living with the disease, and mobilizing Illinois citizens around AFC’s issues.
This year, the foundation spearheaded a coalition advocating for legislation that would allow medical providers to use expedited partner therapy (EPT) in sexually transmitted disease (STD) treatment. With EPT, health care providers give infected patients medicine for their sexual partner without the partner being examined.
“Individuals infected with STDs are more susceptible to HIV infection,” said Peller, noting that Cook County’s STD rates are among the highest in the country. “If there’s anything we can do to reduce STDs in the community, it will have an impact on HIV rates.”
With hard work and persistence, the coalition succeeded—Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill permitting EPT for STD treatment into law on August 24. “It’s pretty incredible to work with a coalition to get a bill passed that becomes the law of the state a year later,” remarked Peller. “That’s a unique opportunity and something that you can really only do at a state level. Something like this nationally might take years.”
And Peller knows this first hand. Before starting at the Harris School, he worked on health care and welfare policy in Washington. He wanted to remain in policy, but felt he needed a structured education to move his career forward. “The degree has really helped me to think strategically about politicians and elected officials’ motivations.”
Today Peller maintains his Harris School connection by serving as a mentor to students, in part because he likes learning about the School’s programmatic evolution. And he finds he enjoys the mentor relationship just as much as the student. “I just love talking to people about what they are interested in, why they chose public policy, and what areas they’re thinking of specializing in.”
And it is this love of talking to people and relationship building that has served Peller so well in his job.
“I know ending [HIV/AIDS] in this country isn’t rocket science,” he explained. Ultimately it takes elected officials to increase funding, make policy changes, and improve treatment access for people living with HIV. “These are simple steps they need to take, but haven’t been taken yet. It’s our job as advocates to push them to make that work.”
