Houston AIDS center director steps down

L. Joel Martinez, director of The Center for AIDS: Hope and Remembrance Project in Houston, stepped down as leader of the agency on February 15 after serving eight years on the job, the Houston Voice reports. He cited personal and health reasons for his decision to leave the position and now plans to work as the center's liaison and representative to the AIDS medical and research communities. Thomas Gegeny, who served as editor of publications at the organization, has been appointed interim director. The center has launched a search for a new director and hopes to hire Martinez's successor by the end of June.