Jim Chud, a longtime resident of West Hollywood and a member of the city’s Disabilities Advisory Board, has been named to Poz magazine’s Poz 100 list, a celebration of long term survivors of HIS/AIDS.
“‘Housing as health care’ is Jim’s specialty. The Yale graduate has spoken to Congress about the issue, and he’s involved with the National AIDS Housing Coalition. All this despite a harrowing experience with an early drug trial that resulted in spinal damage—he lost 7 inches in height because of destroyed disks, leaving less room for his lungs, bowel and stomach. Jim has undergone 37 spine surgeries in the past five years alone. As such, he’s also a staunch advocate for disabled rights. And yet one of his biggest battles, he says, was getting sober 14 years ago. Medical records support his seroconversion back in 1977, before AIDS was even known. Today he’s working on a memoir that we can’t wait to read.”
Chud works as an HIV care analyst at the L.A. County Department of Health Services. He also is a member of the board of the National AIDS Housing Coalition.
Congratulations, Jim. You really are a positive inspiration to more people than you realize. And by any definition, that’s a life truly well-lived.
Congrats Jim!!!! This award could not go to a more deserving person!!!!!
Jim truly exemplifies the term “survivor” having lived through the bleak years of the epidemic and more hospital stays and surgeries than I can count…and still is of service to The Community and creates a good life for himself.
Thank you Jim for your friendship and service to the community. Your constant battles inspire many including myself.
if only we could clone people like him.