Disease Intervention Trainer

Christopher Garcia (he/him/his) is a virtual trainer with the Disease Intervention Training Center (DITC). He is a veteran disease intervention specialist (DIS) and started his public health career in 2007 as a DIS at a large urban county health department in Arizona. While working as a DIS, Christopher led and influenced a first-of-its-kind program that embedded health department DIS into private HIV clinics. This satellite program significantly reduced the number of dual-infected Syphilis/HIV cases, increased the proportion of persons completing a partner elicitation interview, and increased the number of locatable partners notified of exposure and brought to treatment. In 2018, Christopher joined the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and led the HIV Prevention Program, as program manager, until August 2022.

His motto is “the more you know, the more you know that you do not know.” His unique skills includetamale making, social intelligence, and new media literacy.

Virtual Training Facilitator

Luis Peñate previously worked on the frontlines of the fight against HIV and is experienced in sexual health education, HIV/STI testing & counseling, case management, as well as program evaluation and fund development in community-based settings. Luis is committed to supporting the struggle for health equity and justice for queer and trans people, communities of color, working-class immigrants, and other historically disenfranchised communities.

Luis holds undergraduate degrees in Latin American Studies and Educational Studies from Swarthmore College, as well as a Master of Public Health with a Specialization in Health Promotion and Health Education from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

When not at work, Luis enjoys spending time with family and their two energetic dogs, as well as critiquing and deconstructing TV shows with his partner.

DISTC Trainer/TA Specialist

Alberto Perez has over 20 years of expertise in the public health field developing, coordinating, and facilitating Spanish and English-language provider trainings. He has been employed with the CAPTC since 2000 and has served as a trainer for the California HIV PCRS training unit, PCRS Area Manager, and as a Bilingual Behavior Interventions Trainer. He has frontline experience with patients and has served as a Partner Services Provider for the Los Angeles County Sexually Transmitted Disease Program.

Alberto remains committed to enhancing the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities of training participants by providing interactive, skills-based trainings that create a solid foundation in Partner Services and disease intervention.