Kristine M Gebbie

President Clinton on Friday named Kristine M. Gebbie, a former nurse, state health administrator and member of government panels on AIDS prevention, as the nation's first AIDS policy coordinator. The action carried out his campaign pledge to create a top-level post to develop and coordinate an enhanced federal campaign to combat AIDS.

Clinton Administration officials are taking the first steps toward ousting Kristine M. Gebbie as the country's AIDS policy coordinator, sources said Saturday, drawing up a "short list" of candidates to succeed her.

Clinton Administration officials are taking the first steps toward ousting Kristine M. Gebbie as the country's AIDS policy coordinator, sources said Saturday, drawing up a "short list" of candidates to succeed her.

Newly selected federal AIDS coordinator Kristine M. Gebbie's reaction a dozen years ago to the first cases of the mysterious disease that was killing gay men in Los Angeles was like that of most Americans. "I remember thinking, gee, those folks in California have a problem," she recalled. "It took a few months before it sank into my thick head that we have a problem." Even at that, Gebbie probably was ahead of the national curve.

President Clinton today plans to name Kristine M. Gebbie, a former practicing nurse and state health official, as the Administration's AIDS policy chief, officials said Thursday. The announcement will end a long and ill-starred search during which at least two other candidates turned the job down, in part because of concerns about whether the post--heading an office in the White House--will have the authority to coordinate and guide federal AIDS efforts.

Newly selected federal AIDS coordinator Kristine M. Gebbie's reaction a dozen years ago to the first cases of the mysterious disease that was killing gay men in Los Angeles was like that of most Americans. "I remember thinking, gee, those folks in California have a problem," she recalled. "It took a few months before it sank into my thick head that we have a problem." Even at that, Gebbie probably was ahead of the national curve.

President Reagan announced the appointment today of Beny J. Primm of New Rochelle, N.Y., and Kristine M. Gebbie of Portland, Ore., to his dissension-torn blue-ribbon commission on AIDS. Moving to bring the panel back to full strength after the resignations of its two top officers, Reagan named Primm to fill the vacancy of Chairman W. Eugene Mayberry and Gebbie to succeed Vice Chairman Woodrow A. Myers Jr.

In addition to its many medical victims, AIDS has now claimed a major political one--Kristine M. Gebbie, appointed just 11 months ago as the nation's first AIDS policy chief. Though well-intentioned and hard-working, she turned out to be a "czar" without armies, political clout or deep support. Under pressure from groups representing AIDS patients and people infected with the virus, Gebbie resigned Friday.

As of April, acquired immune deficiency syndrome had been diagnosed in nearly 290,000 Americans. Of that number, more than 63% had died, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those statistics provide the backdrop for President Clinton's choice of Kristine M. Gebbie as the nation's first AIDS policy chief. Gebbie brings impressive credentials to the appointment.

President Clinton, moving to plug holes in an AIDS-fighting policy that activists say is sagging, Tuesday named a temporary replacement for the White House AIDS coordinator who resigned under fire last month. Clinton appointed Patricia S. Fleming, an aide to Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, to the post until the White House finds a permanent coordinator, which is expected to take about 60 days.

President Clinton on Friday named Kristine M. Gebbie, a former nurse, state health administrator and member of government panels on AIDS prevention, as the nation's first AIDS policy coordinator. The action carried out his campaign pledge to create a top-level post to develop and coordinate an enhanced federal campaign to combat AIDS.

President Clinton today plans to name Kristine M. Gebbie, a former practicing nurse and state health official, as the Administration's AIDS policy chief, officials said Thursday. The announcement will end a long and ill-starred search during which at least two other candidates turned the job down, in part because of concerns about whether the post--heading an office in the White House--will have the authority to coordinate and guide federal AIDS efforts.

The Clinton Administration has outlined what it described as "an action agenda" for confronting the AIDS epidemic, but AIDS groups complained that the plan is woefully lacking in both action and specifics. The document lists goals for combatting the epidemic, such as strengthening the research effort, eliminating the obstacles to developing an effective AIDS vaccine, expanding health services for people with HIV and developing education programs to prevent transmission.

Hoping to repair his tarnished image within the AIDS community, President Clinton on Thursday named Patricia (Patsy) Fleming, a widely respected legislative specialist with 21 years of government experience, as his new director of AIDS policy. Clinton, who promised to give AIDS a high priority in his Administration, has been attacked by AIDS activists who say he has not done enough. Clinton, introducing Fleming in a White House ceremony, reaffirmed his commitment to battling the disease.