February 2023
Special notice:
All eligible voters will receive a ballot on Feb. 22, 2023 to vote on changes to the ANAC bylaws. The recommended changes pertain to membership categories. Details and rationale are spelled out in the ballot. The vote will remain open for two weeks. 
Policy
New FDA blood donations guidelines
On Jan. 27, the FDA proposed easing blood donation guidelines for gay and bisexual men. The draft proposal would allow anyone to donate if they haven’t engaged in certain sexual behaviors in the last three months. These new rules assess blood donor eligibility using gender inclusive, individual risk based assessment. View the proposal here.

This proposal will be open for public comment for 60 days, closing on March 31. The FDA will then review and consider comments before finalizing guidance.
Sex Ed Week of Action - Feb. 13-17
This week is the 2023 Sex Ed Week of Action sponsored by SIECUS. We invite you to take part in their action to communicate with your state legislators about the importance of comprehensive age appropriate sex education. Send a tailored message to your legislators to raise awareness about the need for comprehensive sex education in your state.
Education
Upcoming webinar series
ANAC is hosting a series of webinars highlighting presentations from ANAC2022 in Tampa. Join us Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. EDT as Steven Shoptaw, PhD, presents Treating Stimulant Use Disorder in HIV Settings. Dr. Shoptaw’s presentation was enthusiastically received by conference attendees and we are pleased to share it with a larger audience. Register now.
Global
PEPFAR turns 20!
Jan. 28 marked the 20th anniversary of the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), launched by President George W. Bush during the 2003 State of the Union Address, bringing together years of HIV/AIDS research, coordinated humanitarian effort, bipartisan support from Congress and engagement from community and faith-based organizations to create an unprecedented response to a global health crisis. In 2017, ANAC awarded the Public Service award to President Bush for his vision and leadership in establishing PEPFAR.

Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children
On Feb. 1, African leaders from countries with a high HIV burden met as part of the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children. The meeting hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania focused on action to ensure that all children with HIV have access to life saving treatment and that mothers living with HIV have babies free from HIV. Ministers and representatives from twelve African countries have committed their plans to end AIDS in children by 2030. Read more here.
Research
ANAC/Sigma Theta Tau research grant now open
ANAC and Sigma Theta Tau annually join to provide a small research grant to an emerging nurse scholar to encourage research career development of nurses through supporting clinically oriented HIV/AIDS research. The deadline for the current application is April 1, 2023.
Conferences
Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit
The 2023 Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit will be held in Las Vegas, April 11 - 12. The Summit will feature sessions on the need for a National PrEP program, community participation in research, sex positivity and other topics. Summit attendees include leaders, advocates and educators interested in maximizing the use of biomedical HIV prevention methods. Registration deadline is March 15.

ACTHIV2023
Registration is now open for the 2023 American Conference for the Treatment of HIV, May 4-6 in Phoenix, AZ. The conference will be held both in-person and virtual. ACTHIV delivers information on new developments and research findings that can be rapidly translated and directly applied to the clinical setting.
Chapter News
Calling all Ohio members!
The Ohio chapter-in-formation has an upcoming hybrid meeting on Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. ET. Dr. Natalie Nielsen, HIV Specialty Pharmacist from The Ohio State University will discuss new long-acting injectable therapeutics for HIV treatment and prevention.

Attend in person at The Ohio State College of Nursing, Newton Hall, Rm 224 or online by registering here.
Member Highlights
Celebrating Black History Month
Each February, we celebrate the achievements of Black Americans during Black History Month. We are proud to honor all of the outstanding Black ANAC members who are working to advance HIV/AIDS care, research, prevention, education and policy. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is celebrated every year on Feb. 7 to acknowledge the progress made in HIV prevention and care among Black Americans while recognizing the work still needed to address the impact of HIV on these communities.

To celebrate, we talked to Martez Smith, a current doctoral candidate about joining ANAC and his work in Black communities.
Award feature of the month
Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN, ANAC DEI Co-Chair and Palm Springs chapter board member, received the Dr. Patrick Kenny Certified Nurse of the Year award at ANAC2022. This prestigious award recognizes an ACLPN, ACRN or AACRN who exemplifies excellence in HIV/AIDS nursing and advances the mission of the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB). Call for awards nominations will open this spring. View a list of all ANAC awards and grants.
Resources
Mpox hesitancy causing concern in U.S.
Vaccine hesitancy for mpox in Mexico and South America is causing a surge in cases globally, with Mexico in the top 10 countries in the world with highest overall number of cases. Read more.
JANAC
Call for papers
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.
Job postings
Indian Health Service, Supervisory Nurse Practitioner (Community Health)
The position is for a supervisory nurse practitioner (community and public health) located in rural Pine Ridge, South Dakota. The public health nursing (PHN) program houses all the HIV syndemic related work, including HCV and STIs. Salary range: $112,693 - $146,507 per year. Apply.

Nurse Practitioner (Abounding Prosperity, Inc., Dallas, TX)
The nurse practitioner is responsible for providing primary and preventative medical care to individuals enrolled in Abounding Prosperity’s clinical programs, in accordance with standards set forth by Abounding Prosperity’s policies and procedures, JCAHO Nursing Standards, CRNP Scope of Practice and Standards and the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for HIV care. Learn more.