September 27, 2024: After 21 years with MATEC at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Dr. Ricardo Rivero will retire, effective September 30, 2024. His next chapter will be open to sharing with his family, including his three dogs, and contributing to the HIV prevention efforts in Latin America.

As he reflects on his leadership journey, he’s very proud of his contributions to public health—particularly regarding HIV care and prevention—and the friendships he has forged along the way. He is forever grateful for the staff, key stakeholders, community, and clinical and nonclinical care teams who dedicate their careers to making a difference in the lives of people most affected by health disparities.

Performing and Transforming

Since Ricardo took the helm as Executive Director of MATEC 11 years ago, our organization has experienced incredible change. Under his leadership, MATEC expanded its HIV-focused mission to develop and transform the health care system and its workforce to advance equitable and patient-centered care; we expanded our reach from six to ten midwestern states, and funding was secured to implement new projects, among others, a fellowship program for physicians who provide primary care in underserved areas; and a project to work with over thirty academic institutions across the U.S. to enhance their teaching about HIV in graduate programs of medicine, nursing and pharmacy, and residency programs of family medicine and dentistry.

During his tenure, MATEC has leaned into its core values (i.e., patient impact, quality training, accountability, and collaborations) to stay relevant and drive data-informed decision-making.

The bottom line is that MATEC is more relevant today than ever, and we are confident in our organization’s strategy and future.

MATEC’s momentum and drive toward quality and strengthening our community will continue under a new leader. Effective October 1, 2024, Amanda Wilkins-Bobel, Midwest AETC Program Project Director, will assume the role of MATEC’s next executive director. Amanda brings a wealth of experience from multiple areas of MATEC. She also played key leadership roles in a local partner site and at the regional office for over nine years. She is strategic, focused on quality and impact, and a mission-driven leader with the vision and experience to lead MATEC as we continue to serve the healthcare workforce. Amanda’s selection as our next executive director is the result of Dr. Rivero’s thorough and diligent succession planning process.

This is an exceptional time to be a part of MATEC. It has always been about making a real difference in the lives of the people we serve and the communities the healthcare workforce serves. There is no doubt that MATEC’s values will continue to lead us to new opportunities for years to come.