Adam Leonard, MS, MPH, CPNP, AAHIVS (He/Him)

PhD Student, Center for Infectious Disease and Nursing Innovation, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing

Bluesky: ajleonard8283.bsky.social

Years as an ANAC member: 8

Local ANAC chapter: Golden Gate

What does Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day mean to you? NYHAAD serves as a reminder to elevate the voices of young people in shaping and implementing HIV prevention and care initiatives. Young people are frequently overlooked and undervalued in HIV programming, and this day urges us to draw from the insights of youth regarding what is crucial in HIV care and prevention services for their demographic.   

What’s your favorite aspect of ANAC membership?

ANAC has provided me with an invaluable community in which to network and create a professional home. 

Do you have a mentor or mentors who have been instrumental to your career and, if so, whom and how?

Yes, many! Clarissa Ospina-Norvell and Diane Jones are wonderful mentors who have helped me build my knowledge in HIV nursing, both in clinical practice and advocacy. Additionally, Drs. Carol Dawson-Rose and Jason Farley have significantly contributed to my growth as a nursing scientist and community-based researcher.

Emily Anne Barr, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, CNM, ACRN, FACNM, FAAN (She/Her)

Assistant Professor, Cizik School of Nursing UTHealth at Houston

Twitter: @emmybarr

Bluesky: @emmybarr.bsky.social

Years as an ANAC member: I am not sure but I started attending meetings as a student in Connecticut in 1996, then in Syracuse in 1997 and then in Denver in 2001.

Local ANAC chapter: Houston Gulf Coast

ANAC Committees: Director at Large, Research, DEI

What does National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day mean to you?

National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day highlights the ongoing challenges faced by youth worldwide in HIV prevention and care. Globally, about 1.4 million children aged 0–14 lived with HIV in 2023, and nearly 360,000 new infections occurred among youth aged 15–24—approximately 1,000 new infections daily. Each week, around 4,000 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 acquired HIV, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. These figures emphasize the urgent need for youth-centered healthcare, targeted education, and comprehensive prevention strategies. Addressing stigma, awareness, and systemic barriers is crucial to empowering youth and ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatments and support.

What is something you learned in the last month?

In recent weeks, I’ve been reminded that youth impacted by HIV continue to face stigma, discrimination, and systemic barriers around the world. But I’ve also seen inspiring young leaders rise—bold, unapologetic, and committed to change. They are carrying forward the legacy of past movements while building something new, and their strength reminds us that this is not the first time youth have led the way in the fight for justice and care.

In the early 90s, I worked in the San Francisco Bay Area, caring for women, children, and youth impacted by HIV and AIDS. I marched and protested in San Francisco, volunteered with the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in Washington, DC, and stood with communities fighting for dignity, treatment, and hope. I served as a "Buddy" to a young mom with HIV in Ithaca, NY, who died just before the approval of protease inhibitors. Since then, I’ve had the honor of supporting countless young people living with HIV as they navigate a world that hasn’t always made space for them.

Today, our knowledge of HIV prevention and treatment is stronger than ever. Now is the time to draw from the wisdom of past movements and the fresh energy of today’s youth leaders. We must ask ourselves, "What can I do?"—whether it’s advocating, educating, donating, or simply listening to the voices of young people living with HIV. They deserve our attention, our respect, and our unwavering support.