National Minority AIDS Council Building Healthier Communities

The API Wellness Center's board officially announced Thursday, November 30 that it had selected Lance Toma, who is openly gay, after conducting a national search to fill the position being vacated by John Manzon-Santos, who led the agency for 10 years. Toma, whose annual salary is $97,000, started in his new role on November 8. The agency delayed announcement of the hiring so as not to overshadow a send-off party for Manzon-Santos and fundraiser it held on November 18.

Toma, 38, first joined the center in 1999 as its director of programs and was promoted to deputy director in 2002. Prior to his move to San Francisco, Toma directed programs for the LGBT community in Chicago. He has served on the board of directors of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition.

"His background in clinical health, combined with his national leadership position within Asian Pacific communities, will allow us to meet the emerging challenges of the next decade," said Board of Directors Chair Jan Masaoka in a statement.

In the statement, Toma said, "As our organization enters its third decade, we must remain relevant and persist in fighting HIV-related stigma by engaging the youth and elders in our community."

Toma will oversee an expanding agency that has not only taken a larger role nationally but in the Bay Area. API Wellness Center is now working in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties.