US Army Veteran Named To Lead CT-Based LGBTQ+ Health Provider

by Staff Report

HARTFORD, CT — A U.S. Army veteran and co-founder of Glastonbury Pride has been named the new executive director at the Health Collective. 

Anthony DiLizia, the organization’s current chief operating officer, brings a strong record of leadership, community service and advocacy for equitable healthcare access to his new role, the organization said in a news release. 

“I am honored to continue serving the Health Collective in this new capacity and deeply humbled by the trust the Board of Directors has placed in me,” DiLizia said in a statement. “Our mission to expand healthcare access for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies has never been more important, and I look forward to leading our dedicated team as we build on this critical work.”

The Health Collective, formerly known as the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, was founded in 1983 by volunteer health professionals and supporters and provides medical services, dental services, support groups and health education tailored to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities. The group said it is especially proud of its services to people living with HIV/AIDS, reaching thousands of people each year.

DiLizia served two contracts in the U.S. Army over six years, first enlisting in 2014 as an intelligence analyst and later as a behavioral health specialist. He has an MBA and is currently pursuing an executive MBA at Yale University, the organization said. He has also served on several nonprofit boards, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness CT.

“We are immensely grateful for Anthony’s two years of leadership in driving operations for the Health Collective,” Board Chairman E. John McGarvey said in the release. “His service in the United States Army, combined with his unwavering commitment to community and social equity, make him the ideal person to guide the Collective during this pivotal moment for healthcare access and advocacy.”