2012 U.S. Conference on AIDS – Highlights from Pre-Conference Summit to End the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in America
Dr. Ronald Vadiserri. Photo credit: Ben Carter/NMAC.
The Summit opened with presentations by Dr. Julio Montaner and Dr. Ron Valdiserri. They set the stage for the discussions that followed with important ideas about the implications of game-changing advances in our understanding of the benefits of biomedical prevention and some principles for achieving an AIDS-free generation.
Dr. Montaner, Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and Director of the British Columbia Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Dr. Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, discussed several principles for achieving an AIDS-free generation. He illustrated each principle with examples from recent HIV research and in so doing highlighted possible approaches for community based organizations and other partners to examine as they work to assess and, possibly, re-tool their roles in helping to end HIV/AIDS in America. Among the principles he shared was “Engage communities in finding solutions to HIV/AIDS.” To illustrate the principle, he discussed highlights from two studies demonstrating the efficacy of community-based, non-clinical approaches to improving HIV care access and treatment adherence. Echoing, in part, Dr. Montaner’s call, another principle articulated by Dr. Valdiserri was “Engineer systems to incorporate emerging research findings.” On this, he quoted NMAC’s Executive Director, Mr. Paul Kawata who has said, “It’s time to adapt…HIV prevention is changing…CBOs must change their service models to adapt.” Dr. Valdiserri noted that it is not only CBOs that must adapt, but all of the systems involved in the response to HIV – federal, state and local governments, clinical care settings, and others – all need to make changes to adapt to significant recent scientific advances in HIV prevention and treatment.
Photo credit: Ben Carter/NMAC
Over the remainder of the two-day Summit, the participants heard from a number of other thought leaders on key topics: HIV testing and diagnosis; linkage and access to care; retention in care; and treatment. The HIV leaders from across the country participating in the Summit held several rounds of intensive, in-depth small group conversations to unpack what the thought leaders were sharing and discus their own experiences and concerns as they reflected on how they and their organizations will move forward in revitalized ways to better serve their communities and help bring us closer to ending HIV/AIDS in America.
Check back with the AIDS.gov blog later today. We’ll be posting highlights from Sunday’s USCA opening day plenary sessions; and tomorrow we’ll share highlights from the second day of the conference.
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