Mark R. Dybul, the global AIDS coordinator under former President George W. Bush, will joined APCO Worldwide's international advisory council, the firm announced Tuesday.

Dybul was a Bush appointee who helped build the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, (PEPFAR), which distributed AIDS drugs to 2 million AIDS patients in Africa. Dybul's abrupt resignation in the first weeks of Obama's administration resulted in criticism that an effective official had been shepherded out the door. The State Department countered that he was treated no differently than other political appointees.

Dybul, a doctor who has cared for AIDS patients, has been celebrated for the scope and successes of PEPFAR, and to a lesser extent associated with criticisms of abstinence-only policies. Dybul's backers denied he supported abstinence-only programs.

Dybul will help APCO's clients "raise awareness, build advocacy and maximize the reach and impact of their global health efforts," he said in the APCO statement.

Dybul will join over 50 other on the council which include former elected officials, business leaders, and other influentials, some of whom are registered as lobbyists.
Dybul has also served at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization, according to the release.