Packer Ditches SFAF Job

Longtime San Francisco public health official Tracey Packer, who had recently accepted a high-level job at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, has told the nonprofit that she's rescinding the offer, the Bay Area Reporter has learned.

Packer's providing only vague explanations publicly.

SFAF announced in November that Packer, 56, who's led HIV prevention initiatives at the San Francisco Department of Public Health for more than a decade, would start as the nonprofit's senior director of programs and services January 4, overseeing the foundation's programs at its Market Street headquarters.

But Packer emailed Neil Giuliano, SFAF's outgoing CEO, December 9 to let him know officially that she had changed her mind.

Contacted by the B.A.R., Packer referred a reporter to DPH spokeswoman Rachael Kagan. In a December 10 email, Kagan shared comments from Packer.

"I ultimately decided to stay with the health department as the director of Community Health Equity and Prevention because I believe I can make the most substantial contribution from here to HIV prevention in San Francisco and to reaching vital public health goals," Packer said in the email.

She called SFAF "an amazing organization," and said she was "honored" by the job offer.

"I am very impressed with all their staff and programs," Packer said. "SFAF is key in getting to zero new HIV infections in San Francisco. It is clear to me that the strong and dedicated team at SFAF will continue San Francisco's success in HIV prevention and care."

After the B.A.R. sent Packer and Kagan an email asking whether the health department had offered Packer any changes in her salary, job, or anything else, and what any changes would be, Kagan responded, "We are not going to provide answers to those questions. Except to say that this was Tracey's decision, and not influenced by either DPH or SFAF."

SFAF, which has a budget of $32 million, provides a wide range of free services to thousands of people a year, including HIV testing and prevention services, syringe exchange, and housing assistance.

Packer told the B.A.R. in November that she was "really looking forward to supporting the great work that SFAF does, particularly with the clients and community reached through 1035 Market."

In an interview, Giuliano said he was "very disappointed" and "very surprised" by Packer's change of heart, "but of course you have to respect someone's decision."

The position would be posted "right away," he said.

"We obviously thought Tracey was clearly, by far the best" candidate, Giuliano said, "but we will go forth and recruit someone else for the position who will also do a really good job. My guess is we'll find someone who didn't apply in the past" because they weren't "ready to leave their current job," among other possible reasons.

He said in the meantime, "We have very, very competent people who run our programs." He added that he's "not worried about service delivery at all."

Packer previously said that her salary at SFAF would be more than her current salary, which is about $122,000.

Giuliano wasn't sure what the salary for the programs director position at his agency would be.

At the health department, Packer supervises more than 25 community-based organizations funded through city contracts and subcontracts, making her a familiar face for numerous local nonprofit officials.

Giuliano, who was recently named as the president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership, a business group in Arizona, said his last day at SFAF would be December 31.

Tim L. Jones started work earlier this month as SFAF's interim CEO.

SFAF also recently announced that on January 4 it would begin providing sexual health services at Strut, its new gay and bi men's health center at 470 Castro Street. The services are currently offered at the nonprofit's Magnet center nearby at 4122 18th Street. (See related story.)