Brandon Wollerson

What we talked about

From social work to community engagement

Brandon Wollerson’s path into philanthropy began with direct service. In this Making Names conversation, he describes training as a social worker at the University of Texas at Austin, starting in hospice and moving into other parts of HIV care. That experience exposed him to the practical challenges people face when seeking support, as well as the strength of the community around them. After working in operations, he moved into fundraising and community engagement at Vivent Health. He sees that role as another way to connect people with the resources needed to sustain care.

Progress has not erased stigma

Wollerson’s central observation is that public understanding has not kept pace with changes in HIV treatment. He recalls encountering stigmatizing language early in life and describes how misinformation still shapes conversations today. His concern is not only what people believe about HIV, but what those beliefs mean for someone trying to ask questions or seek support. The discussion distinguishes medical progress from the work of ensuring people can access care and reliable information. Rather than treating HIV as a problem that has disappeared, he asks the community to keep paying attention.

Supporting people through a longer life

The conversation turns to aging with HIV, a topic Wollerson sees as both a sign of progress and a responsibility for service organizations. Supporting someone is not limited to the moment of diagnosis. Needs can change over a lifetime, and care must respond to the wider circumstances of a person’s health and daily life. He also expresses concern about the durability of that support when resources are uncertain. His emphasis is on maintaining community attention and sustaining the services people rely on, rather than assuming earlier gains will continue without effort.

An integrated experience in Austin

Wollerson describes Vivent Health’s Austin roots in AIDS Services of Austin and its evolution toward an integrated health center. In his account, medical care, pharmacy access, behavioral health and other support services are brought closer together to reduce the burden of navigating separate appointments across town. He is careful to acknowledge that an organization cannot meet every need. The aim, as he explains it, is to make the experience more connected and responsive. His community-engagement work supports that effort through fundraising, partnerships, volunteer involvement and helping people understand why the work still matters.

Keep the conversation going

Education, for Wollerson, often begins with an ordinary one-to-one conversation. Talking about his work can reveal a misconception, open a personal connection or introduce someone to resources they did not know existed. He sees partnerships as a way to extend those conversations through other organizations and their networks. The same attention applies when someone reaches out for an appointment: the next step should be easy to find, and the experience should be welcoming. He closes by directing people to Vivent Health’s website to learn about its services and ways to become involved.