Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
Nelson Vergel: A Life Dedicated to Health Advocacy and Education
Early Life and Education
Nelson Vergel was born on 12 February 1959 in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Wikitia He studied chemical engineering school at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, with a full scholarship, graduating in 1981. In 1987, Vergel went to the University of Houston, where he pursued a master’s degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Marketing. Wikitia
Professional Career in Engineering
Vergel started his career in 1982 when he joined the Venezuelan oil company Lagoven as a process engineer. He worked for over three years at this firm, during which he was responsible for the design, start-up, and maintenance supervision activities of 14 secondary offshore oil recovery water injection plants in Lake Maracaibo. Wikitia
His engineering career continued with positions at:
• Aqua Process in Houston as a sales engineer (1985-1988) Wikitia
• Quantum Chemicals in Houston as a project engineer (1988-1991), managing design, installation, start-up, and troubleshooting activities of a utility section of an ethylene plant Wikitia
• Shell Oil Company as a senior environmental project engineer (1990-1993), managing multi-million dollar projects at six refineries, two chemical plants, and several service stations Wikitia
He was awarded the Environmental Excellence Award for preventing EPA fines in several refineries. Wikitia
HIV Diagnosis and Transformation
Arriving in the United States as a young immigrant from Venezuela in 1984, I bore not only aspirations for a brighter future but also the overwhelming fear of a virus that I heard about in the news as soon as I arrived. Months later, I was told I was one of those stricken by this terminal disease. Taylor & Francis Online
Nelson was diagnosed with HIV in 1986/1987 (sources vary on exact date), at age 27, during an era when HIV was considered a death sentence. At the time, he wasn’t sure he’d make it to 30, let alone to one day see 50. TheBodyPro
Becoming a Health Advocate
Rather than succumbing to despair, Vergel’s diagnosis propelled him into action:
• Nelson Vergel is a chemical engineer who has become a leading advocate for sports nutrition, supplementation and the promotion of wellness in the HIV-positive community since his positive diagnosis in 1986. TheBody
• He became a certified HIV counselor and volunteered at Houston’s main HIV clinic at night while maintaining his engineering career during the day
• The virus ultimately caused him to experience HIV-associated wasting. But he bulked up with the help of anabolic steroids. “I not only felt better but also started to look like I didn’t have HIV,” Vergel says. POZ
Major Accomplishments and Publications
Books
1. “Built to Survive” (1994, co-authored with Michael Mooney)
• With over 330 scientific references, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the medical use of anabolic steroids, growth hormone, supplementation, optimal nutrition, and exercise to prevent and treat the loss of lean body mass and body alterations experienced by people with HIV. Amazon Amazon
• “We were able to reverse wasting in the early ’90s,” he explains. “That brought us a few years to get to 1996, when the protease era came in.” POZ
2. “Testosterone: A Man’s Guide”
• Published as a resource for men experiencing low testosterone
• There are several testosterone books on Amazon. What makes this one so different is that it is written by Nelson Vergel (Founder of ExcelMale.com and DiscountedLabs.com) , a chemical engineer and 33+ year HIV and cancer survivor that discovered in 1993 that testosterone could save him from wasting syndrome and death. Amazon
3. “Beyond Testosterone: The Illustrated Guide”
• “Beyond Testosterone” is a comprehensive 427-page guide authored by Nelson Vergel, a seasoned expert in the realm of hormone therapy and author of “Testosterone: A Man’s Guide” and “Built to Survive.” With a vibrant full-color layout and extensive illustrations Amazon Amazon UK
Organizations Founded
1. Program for Wellness Restoration (PoWeR) (1994)
• In 1994, Vergel founded Program for Wellness Restoration, a non-profit organization to help HIV+ patients survive the disease. Since its inception, he offered over 600 educational programs and CME programs in collaboration with AIDS Service Organizations all over the United States in English and Spanish Wikitia
2. Body Positive Wellness Clinic (Houston)
3. ExcelMale.com (2013)
• After a suggestion by Gene Devine, Nelson created ExcelMale.com in October 2013 to spread his 30+ year knowledge to help people lead a healthy life regardless of their health status or background. Excel Male
• ExcelMale.com has become one of the most respected and largest testosterone forums globally Discounted Labs
• Has over 55,000 members including educated men, physicians, pharmacists, dietitians, exercise trainers, and other professionals
4. DiscountedLabs.com
• To remove barriers for self-monitoring, Nelson created DiscountedLabs.com to provide low-cost blood tests to people in most of the United States. Amazon Discounted Labs
5. Clinic Optimizers
• He is the co-founder of Clinic Optimizers, an integrative medicine educational company that provides reference-backed information to physicians about compounded formulations used in hormone replacement, weight loss, sexual health, dermatology, and other uses. Amazon Amazon
Advisory and Advocacy Work
Nelson has held numerous prestigious positions:
• eventually becoming an advocate member in the National Health Institute (NIH), pharmaceutical research committees, and FDA review panels. Amazon Amazon
• Provided input in the drug development process to 12 companies through the work of the Drug Development Committee of the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC) LinkedIn
• He has been a speaker for 14 pharmaceutical companies on hormones, side effect management, and healthy aging. Amazon Amazon
• Provided community input and sales force training in the launch of the following HIV specialty products: Oxandrin, Androgel, Testim, Anadrol, Marinol, and Sculptra. LinkedIn
Recognition and Awards
• Vergel is the recipient of the Vision and Advocacy Award by the Body Positive Wellness Clinic (1997) and the Environmental Excellence Award by Shell Oil (1992). Wikitia
• Most notably: Houston’s Mayor Lee Brown proclaimed September 13, 2001, as Nelson Vergel Day for his contributions to the community in Houston. Wikitia
• Vergel was also named one of the top 100 activists in the world by POZ Magazine Wikitia
• featured on the cover and main article in HIVPlus in Sept 2005 for his work to advance salvage therapy access. Wikitia
• He was also interviewed by CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other media outlets. Wikitia
Educational Impact
• To spread survival knowledge, he has given health-related lectures, providing over 700 of them since 1987. Amazon Amazon
• Setting up, promoting and providing over 600 educational programs and CME programs in collaboration with AIDS Service Organizations all over the United States in English and Spanish LinkedIn
Current Status and Living with HIV
As a long-term survivor, Vergel continues to face challenges:
• Vergel has developed multi-drug resistance (MDR), rendering his HIV essentially resistant to every commercially available HIV drug TheBodyPro
• His number one issue right now? “Fatigue,” says Vergel, without hesitation. TheBodyPro
• He is known as an immunologic nonresponder (INR), a person with limited or no recovery of T cells despite viral suppression. Vergel is currently one of the driving forces behind an activist coalition pushing for the development of immune-boosting therapies POZ
Recent Perspectives on HIV Cure Research
In 2024, Vergel published “An HIV long-term survivor and activist’s perspective on HIV cure-related research” in HIV Research & Clinical Practice Taylor & Francis Online, where he shared: “My subsequent years were marked by a triple struggle: getting information to save my life during years before the Internet, caring for and burying my sick friends abandoned by their families, and keeping my HIV status hidden to avoid discrimination from employers.” Taylor & Francis Online
Legacy and Impact
Nelson Vergel’s transformation from a young HIV patient facing death to a leading health advocate demonstrates remarkable resilience. His work has:
• Saved countless lives through education about HIV wasting syndrome treatments
• Created accessible platforms for men’s health information
• Democratized access to blood testing through DiscountedLabs
• Built communities where patients can share knowledge and support
• Bridged the gap between medical research and practical patient application
As he noted in POZ Magazine: “Long-term survivors have a lot of knowledge as a community,” Vergel says. “Somebody could tap into the power we have. We really are useful and still relevant.” POZ
Nelson Vergel’s life exemplifies how personal adversity can be transformed into advocacy that benefits thousands, creating lasting change in healthcare accessibility and patient empowerment.
Early Life and Education
Nelson Vergel was born on 12 February 1959 in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Wikitia He studied chemical engineering school at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, with a full scholarship, graduating in 1981. In 1987, Vergel went to the University of Houston, where he pursued a master’s degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Marketing. Wikitia
Professional Career in Engineering
Vergel started his career in 1982 when he joined the Venezuelan oil company Lagoven as a process engineer. He worked for over three years at this firm, during which he was responsible for the design, start-up, and maintenance supervision activities of 14 secondary offshore oil recovery water injection plants in Lake Maracaibo. Wikitia
His engineering career continued with positions at:
• Aqua Process in Houston as a sales engineer (1985-1988) Wikitia
• Quantum Chemicals in Houston as a project engineer (1988-1991), managing design, installation, start-up, and troubleshooting activities of a utility section of an ethylene plant Wikitia
• Shell Oil Company as a senior environmental project engineer (1990-1993), managing multi-million dollar projects at six refineries, two chemical plants, and several service stations Wikitia
He was awarded the Environmental Excellence Award for preventing EPA fines in several refineries. Wikitia
HIV Diagnosis and Transformation
Arriving in the United States as a young immigrant from Venezuela in 1984, I bore not only aspirations for a brighter future but also the overwhelming fear of a virus that I heard about in the news as soon as I arrived. Months later, I was told I was one of those stricken by this terminal disease. Taylor & Francis Online
Nelson was diagnosed with HIV in 1986/1987 (sources vary on exact date), at age 27, during an era when HIV was considered a death sentence. At the time, he wasn’t sure he’d make it to 30, let alone to one day see 50. TheBodyPro
Becoming a Health Advocate
Rather than succumbing to despair, Vergel’s diagnosis propelled him into action:
• Nelson Vergel is a chemical engineer who has become a leading advocate for sports nutrition, supplementation and the promotion of wellness in the HIV-positive community since his positive diagnosis in 1986. TheBody
• He became a certified HIV counselor and volunteered at Houston’s main HIV clinic at night while maintaining his engineering career during the day
• The virus ultimately caused him to experience HIV-associated wasting. But he bulked up with the help of anabolic steroids. “I not only felt better but also started to look like I didn’t have HIV,” Vergel says. POZ
Major Accomplishments and Publications
Books
1. “Built to Survive” (1994, co-authored with Michael Mooney)
• With over 330 scientific references, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the medical use of anabolic steroids, growth hormone, supplementation, optimal nutrition, and exercise to prevent and treat the loss of lean body mass and body alterations experienced by people with HIV. Amazon Amazon
• “We were able to reverse wasting in the early ’90s,” he explains. “That brought us a few years to get to 1996, when the protease era came in.” POZ
2. “Testosterone: A Man’s Guide”
• Published as a resource for men experiencing low testosterone
• There are several testosterone books on Amazon. What makes this one so different is that it is written by Nelson Vergel (Founder of ExcelMale.com and DiscountedLabs.com) , a chemical engineer and 33+ year HIV and cancer survivor that discovered in 1993 that testosterone could save him from wasting syndrome and death. Amazon
3. “Beyond Testosterone: The Illustrated Guide”
• “Beyond Testosterone” is a comprehensive 427-page guide authored by Nelson Vergel, a seasoned expert in the realm of hormone therapy and author of “Testosterone: A Man’s Guide” and “Built to Survive.” With a vibrant full-color layout and extensive illustrations Amazon Amazon UK
Organizations Founded
1. Program for Wellness Restoration (PoWeR) (1994)
• In 1994, Vergel founded Program for Wellness Restoration, a non-profit organization to help HIV+ patients survive the disease. Since its inception, he offered over 600 educational programs and CME programs in collaboration with AIDS Service Organizations all over the United States in English and Spanish Wikitia
2. Body Positive Wellness Clinic (Houston)
3. ExcelMale.com (2013)
• After a suggestion by Gene Devine, Nelson created ExcelMale.com in October 2013 to spread his 30+ year knowledge to help people lead a healthy life regardless of their health status or background. Excel Male
• ExcelMale.com has become one of the most respected and largest testosterone forums globally Discounted Labs
• Has over 55,000 members including educated men, physicians, pharmacists, dietitians, exercise trainers, and other professionals
4. DiscountedLabs.com
• To remove barriers for self-monitoring, Nelson created DiscountedLabs.com to provide low-cost blood tests to people in most of the United States. Amazon Discounted Labs
5. Clinic Optimizers
• He is the co-founder of Clinic Optimizers, an integrative medicine educational company that provides reference-backed information to physicians about compounded formulations used in hormone replacement, weight loss, sexual health, dermatology, and other uses. Amazon Amazon
Advisory and Advocacy Work
Nelson has held numerous prestigious positions:
• eventually becoming an advocate member in the National Health Institute (NIH), pharmaceutical research committees, and FDA review panels. Amazon Amazon
• Provided input in the drug development process to 12 companies through the work of the Drug Development Committee of the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC) LinkedIn
• He has been a speaker for 14 pharmaceutical companies on hormones, side effect management, and healthy aging. Amazon Amazon
• Provided community input and sales force training in the launch of the following HIV specialty products: Oxandrin, Androgel, Testim, Anadrol, Marinol, and Sculptra. LinkedIn
Recognition and Awards
• Vergel is the recipient of the Vision and Advocacy Award by the Body Positive Wellness Clinic (1997) and the Environmental Excellence Award by Shell Oil (1992). Wikitia
• Most notably: Houston’s Mayor Lee Brown proclaimed September 13, 2001, as Nelson Vergel Day for his contributions to the community in Houston. Wikitia
• Vergel was also named one of the top 100 activists in the world by POZ Magazine Wikitia
• featured on the cover and main article in HIVPlus in Sept 2005 for his work to advance salvage therapy access. Wikitia
• He was also interviewed by CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other media outlets. Wikitia
Educational Impact
• To spread survival knowledge, he has given health-related lectures, providing over 700 of them since 1987. Amazon Amazon
• Setting up, promoting and providing over 600 educational programs and CME programs in collaboration with AIDS Service Organizations all over the United States in English and Spanish LinkedIn
Current Status and Living with HIV
As a long-term survivor, Vergel continues to face challenges:
• Vergel has developed multi-drug resistance (MDR), rendering his HIV essentially resistant to every commercially available HIV drug TheBodyPro
• His number one issue right now? “Fatigue,” says Vergel, without hesitation. TheBodyPro
• He is known as an immunologic nonresponder (INR), a person with limited or no recovery of T cells despite viral suppression. Vergel is currently one of the driving forces behind an activist coalition pushing for the development of immune-boosting therapies POZ
Recent Perspectives on HIV Cure Research
In 2024, Vergel published “An HIV long-term survivor and activist’s perspective on HIV cure-related research” in HIV Research & Clinical Practice Taylor & Francis Online, where he shared: “My subsequent years were marked by a triple struggle: getting information to save my life during years before the Internet, caring for and burying my sick friends abandoned by their families, and keeping my HIV status hidden to avoid discrimination from employers.” Taylor & Francis Online
Legacy and Impact
Nelson Vergel’s transformation from a young HIV patient facing death to a leading health advocate demonstrates remarkable resilience. His work has:
• Saved countless lives through education about HIV wasting syndrome treatments
• Created accessible platforms for men’s health information
• Democratized access to blood testing through DiscountedLabs
• Built communities where patients can share knowledge and support
• Bridged the gap between medical research and practical patient application
As he noted in POZ Magazine: “Long-term survivors have a lot of knowledge as a community,” Vergel says. “Somebody could tap into the power we have. We really are useful and still relevant.” POZ
Nelson Vergel’s life exemplifies how personal adversity can be transformed into advocacy that benefits thousands, creating lasting change in healthcare accessibility and patient empowerment.
