Vaccine Awareness Day was May 18

Vaccine Awareness Day is a chance to thank the volunteers, community members, health professionals and scientists working together to find a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine. It is also a time to educate communities about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research. While the development of a safe and effective HIV preventative vaccine continues to elude researchers, efforts continue, as this would play an essential role in ensuring the end of the HIV pandemic.

A fellowship opportunity is available with the Division of HIV Prevention (DHP) within the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

The purpose of this fellowship program is to recruit, mentor and further train doctoral-level scientists to conduct research in U.S. sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations, focusing on HIV prevention among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and/or transgender women. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2023. For more information contact Gordon Mansergh or apply here using reference code: CDC-NCHHSTP-2023-0062.

Register now at a discounted price to reserve your spot today! ANAC is heading to The Big Easy for the 2023 Annual ANAC conference Oct. 26-28. The conference brings together nearly 500 nurses, nurse educators and other healthcare providers to network and learn more about important topics like pharmaceutical breakthroughs, racial disparities, The Plan to End HIV and much more.

If you are energetic, forward-thinking and committed to promoting the health and welfare of people living with HIV AND want to get more involved with ANAC - join the board or nominating committee!

The following positions are open:

Make a nomination or nominate yourself here. Deadline for nominations is May 24.

Please note the following requirements for nomination:

June 12, 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the Denver Principles. This historic declaration called for all persons living with HIV (PLWH) to be treated with dignity, respect and as fully autonomous participants in their health care. This early advocacy effort, often considered the first Bill of Rights for PLWH, continues to be echoed today in “nothing about us without us.”

The court procedures regarding coverage of preventive services, (including PrEP) as recommended by the USPSTF, known as Braidwood vs. Becerra continues to drag through the courts. On May 16, the Fifth Circuit Court stayed the decision, meaning nothing changes in the preventative services/PrEP landscape until a final decision from the Fifth Circuit. Depending on that outcome, the expectation is that the DOJ will appeal to the Supreme Court, who will likely find for preventative services. As expected, the initial Braidwood decision does not change anything as it winds its way through the courts.

Applications for the third cohort of ANAC’s HIV and Aging Scholars Program are now open! This program is open to individuals from any disciplines including nursing, social work, case management and pharmacy among others. Apply today! Deadline is May 21.

In case you missed any of the terrific webinars we hosted in April and May, visit our website to view the recordings and claim up to seven contact hours of NCPD!

JANAC is preparing two special issues on the topics of Cisgender women with domestic and global perspectives and HIV care and treatment in the U.S. south and rural and remote communities globally.

Submissions for articles on both topics will be open until Aug. 1, 2023.

The International AIDS Society (IAS) announced that AIDS 2024, the 25th International AIDS Conference, will take place in Munich, Germany, and virtually from July 22-26, 2024. Pre-conferences are set to start on July 20, 2024. Going forward, all conferences will have a virtual component and the in-person component of IAS conferences will rotate among five world regions – Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the US and Canada.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) agreed to work together to contribute to efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), viral hepatitis, mpox and other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis in Latin America and the Caribbean. Read more.

The CDC and local health authorities are investigating a cluster of pox cases in the Chicago area occurring in April and early May. A total of 12 confirmed and one probable case of mpox was reported. A CDC health alert cautions about a possible resurgence in cases during spring and summer 2023 even in those fully vaccinated. A CDC Clinician Outreach Communication Activity (COCA) call on Thursday, May 18 will review recommendations for mpox testing, vaccination, treatment and prevention.

The DEI committee hosted the first episode of the Sex Positivity Series on April 26. It was led by a panel of DEI members: Bridgette Piccou, Sheryl Malone-Thomas and Chen Zhang. You can view it now and enter passcode NPr2zC7+. The DEI Committee is excited to host episode two of this series later this summer!

The chapter committee will hold an open meeting June 7 at 6 p.m. ET. All members, chapter members and leaders are invited and encouraged to attend! Register in advance.

Jessica Wells, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, Assistant Professor at Emory University was recently promoted with tenure. Dr. Wells’ research focus is cancer control and prevention in people living with HIV and other vulnerable populations. Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.

ANAC board member, Crystal Chapman Lambert, PhD, CRNP, ACRN, Associate Professor at the UAB School of Nursing was awarded a Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators from the UC Davis School of Nursing. The three-year program recognizes early- to mid-career nursing scholars and innovators by supporting their research at their home institution. Her research focuses on improving health outcomes for minority populations, particularly women living with HIV.

New York ANAC member, Ann-Margaret Navarra, is recruiting for a study designed to support medication adherence among young people living with HIV. The Adherence Connection for Counseling, Education and Support (ACCESS) II study through NYU’s Rory Meyer’s College of Nursing is a randomized clinical trial comparing two interventions designed to help adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with HIV (HIV+) manage their antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence. For more information, to refer a patient, or if you are willing to post a recruitment flyer in your clinic. Learn more.

We are now accepting nominations for the following awards:

Read a description and nomination instructions for each award here and consider making a nomination or self-nominating! Award nominations are open until June 5.

This full-time position will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies, activities and collaborations to support and expand ANAC’s global presence in the engagement, networking, education and other support of nurses and other members of the global HIV healthcare workforce. Learn more and apply.