Thought Pieces

Recently, I had an insightful conversation with some community partners about the crucial need to bridge gaps in the sharing of scientific information with “the community” and helping scientists see themselves as part of “the community.”

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding its ability to reduce the risk of certain STIs, a growing body of evidence has raised concerns about the overuse of doxycycline as STI post-exposure prophylaxis.

In public health and social science, inclusive and equitable research practices are crucial for ensuring that all communities benefit from scientific progress.

Hopelessness is different from depression, as depression is oriented toward the present and hopelessness projects onto the future.

As we continue to celebrate Pride Month, we must keep in mind that some members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to experience disproportionate health outcomes compared to others.

On the heels of DC Black Pride, I am reminded of the importance of engaging the community and thinking of meaningful ways to build trust and encourage research participation among Black gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men.

Some believe that one of the questions in our HIV prevention study could be stigmatizing. This concern led me to raise the question: “What’s so bad about getting HIV?”

This week in my Advanced Health Communication class, I am teaching about the role of misinformation on health behavior and outcomes and I am reminded of my work in sexual health promotion for Black sexual minority men (SMM).

Theories that assess risk and identify elements for behavior change are foundational to public health practice and related policy.

My research to-date coupled with my experience as the PI and Peer Change Agent for an HIV prevention intervention has made it immensely clear to me that public health and clinical researchers need frameworks to better understand what is considered sexual “risk” for HIV and other STIs to better engage

U=U means that people with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load (i.e., the amount of HIV in the blood) cannot sexually transmit the virus to others if they take antiretroviral therapy as prescribed.

I recently attended the International AIDS Meeting in Brisbane, Australia where I discussed the latest intervention I led as a peer change agent (PCA).

POSSIBLE was a theoretically-guided multicomponent intervention designed to improve perceived HIV risk as a precursor to PrEP initiation among Black sexual minority men.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis is highly effective for HIV prevention. However, use remains low for Black gay and bisexual men.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication that substantially prevents HIV acquisition. One form of PrEP involves a single pill containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine taken daily.