SON Researchers to Take Part in Panel Discussion on HIV in the Black Community

The University of Rochester Center for AIDS Research is pleased to announce the availability of a new World AIDS Day webinar titled “Getting to Zero in the Black Community in the US: Preliminary Findings from the National Survey on HIV in the Black Community (NSHBC)” to be held on Thursday, Dec. 15 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The webinar can be viewed in the School of Nursing Auditorium (HWH 1W304) and will be followed by a panel discussion. Panelists include:

• LaRon Nelson, PhD, RN, assistant professor and the Dean’s Endowed Fellow in Health Disparities at the School of Nursing
• Natalie Leblanc, RN, MPH, PhD, post-doctoral associate in HIV Prevention Science at the School of Nursing
• Reverend Weldon Thomas, senior pastor, New Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
• Naimah Sierra, Vice President, Community Services Division, Action for a Better Community

Parking will be available in the Saunders Research Building parking lot. RSVP to Laura Enders (Laura_Enders@urmc.rochester.edu) to secure a parking pass. 

Additional Information:
The goal of the NSHBC was to develop and administer a survey focused on the cultural, psychosocial, and structural factors that are driving the HIV epidemic amongst Black individuals in the United States. By focusing solely and comprehensively on Black individuals this survey allowed for a more nuanced understanding of the root causes of HIV within our target population. The new knowledge that will be created will better explain persistent disparities in the HIV epidemic in the US and directly inform interventions and policy change.

Discussion topics:

• Review data from the survey
• Discuss plans for the first few papers
• Next steps

Speakers:

• Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Harvard University
• Dr. Laura Bogart, RAND Corporation
• Dr. Alecia Mc Gregor, Tufts University

The webinar is sponsored by the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research Community Education and Engagement Program.