Deborah Gold receives honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester
National AIDS Trust’s Chief Executive Deborah Gold has been awarded an honorary doctorate in Social Sciences from the University of Manchester.
The doctorate was awarded to Deborah to honour work on behalf of people living with or at risk of HIV at National AIDS Trust, as well as her roles at other charitable organisations throughout her career.
Deborah received her accolade alongside Catherine Hall, Emerita Professor of History, Chair of the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery at UCL and Sir Kevin Leeson, former Air Marshall and Chief of Materiel (Air) in Defence Equipment and Support.
The ceremony took place during The University of Manchester’s Foundation Day, commemorating the institution's establishment in its present form, through the amalgamation of the Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 2004.
As part of the Foundation Day celebrations, Deborah gave a lecture entitled 'HIV has changed. Tell everyone'. The lecture shed light on the remarkable strides made in HIV treatment and prevention, while also addressing the persistent barriers that must be dismantled to attain the target of eradicating new transmissions by 2030.
Deborah said: “I am truly grateful be offered an honorary doctorate and I would like to extend a huge thank you to the University of Manchester. It is also privilege to be able to give a lecture about the progress that has been made in the fight against HIV, and acknowledge the work of so many that has got us here.
“It is fitting to receive this doctorate in Manchester; a city that has been pivotal to the UK’s response to the virus. I have had pleasure of working in the city, with partners including George House Trust and LGBT Foundation who do incredible work locally and beyond. Manchester’s unique devolved and integrated health response has led the way for changes that are now taking place across the country, and the city’s health leaders have been generous time and time again to support National AIDS Trust by sharing their expertise.”