David Contois

David Contois has more than 25 years of experience leading public health campaigns, including spearheading more than 30 national or regional HIV initiatives. These campaigns relate to every aspect of HIV prevention, including abstinence, condom use, treatment as prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and undetectable = untransmittable, with audiences experiencing the highest rates of HIV.

As a senior campaign strategist at RTI International, Mr. Contois serves as project director for the emerging tobacco products communication initiative with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce youth use of emerging tobacco products. The campaign, Empower Vape-Free Youth, launched in September 2023 with the goal of enabling U.S. middle and high school administrators to speak about e-cigarette risks with youth.

Mr. Contois contributed to the creation and implementation of the first Act Against AIDS campaign for CDC, Testing Makes Us Stronger, which was subsequently adapted for a younger target audience with Advocates for Youth. He also founded KnowCyrstal.org, providing “information without judgement” for gay and bisexual men who use crystal meth, leading to higher rates of HIV.

He has worked with CDC in a variety of public health communication capacities and has a deep knowledge of the federal agency and the Division of HIV Prevention. Most recently, Mr. Contois led the strategic communications plan and rebranding effort for CDC’s National Prevention Information Network. He has also contributed to multiple health communications projects with the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, and state and local health departments.