Kevin J. Burns is the Executive Director of Action Wellness. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from DeSales University in 1978 and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 1990. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and also is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. Prior to professional work in the HIV/AIDS community, his practice was in the area of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and as an adjunct professor at the Rutgers University School of Social Work. He maintained a private psychotherapy practice from 1993 through 2002, specializing his practice in the LGBT community.

Kevin began his work with HIV/AIDS in 1986 as a volunteer Buddy for Action Wellness (then ActionAIDS). He started his professional career at Action Wellness as a Medical Case Manager in 1989. Since 1989 he has held a number of positions at Action Wellness, including Medical Case Manager, Case Management Coordinator, Assistant Director of Client Services, Director of Client Services, and Deputy Executive Director. He was promoted to his current position as Executive Director of Action Wellness in 2005.

Kevin is the current Vice President of the Board of Directors of Dining Out For Life International, and a board member and Secretary of Communities Advocating for Emergency AIDS Relief Coalition (CAEAR Coalition), a national advocacy group working for adequate funding for AIDS services across the country. He is a past Chair of the Circle of Care Advisor Board, a past member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania AIDS Law Project, The Pennsylvania Coalition for AIDS Service Organizations and the Board of Directors of the AIDS Fund. Kevin served on the Philadelphia Ryan White Planning Council from 2002 until 2018.

Kevin is of Irish stock on his father’s side of the family. His great grandparents, Thomas and Mary (Murphy) Burns, immigrated to the United States in 1880 from The Parish Clough, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland and settled in Minersville, PA. Both his great-grandfather and grandfather were coal miners. Kevin’s father worked as a butcher and factory worker. “My grandparents didn’t finish grade school, and my parents didn’t finish high school. Nevertheless, they worked tirelessly to give my generation the educational opportunities that they never had.” ♦