Meet George Nawas, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP

Clinical Associate Professor

Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA)

Dr. Nawas is a clinical associate professor at Xavier University of Louisiana’s College of Pharmacy, a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and an HIV specialist. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Lebanese American University and completed PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residencies at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy and Banner University Medical Center in Tucson.

Dr. Nawas’s work bridges education, clinical practice, research and policy, all centered on improving public health outcomes and reducing disparities in underserved communities. At Xavier, he coordinates the Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapeutics course and created the HIV/AIDS in At-Risk Communities elective, launched in 2023. The course provides third-year pharmacy students with community-centered training focused on patient engagement, health disparities and practical HIV prevention and care strategies.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Nawas serves as a clinical pharmacist and preceptor at University Medical Center New Orleans, mentoring students and residents in acute care and internal medicine. His research and policy efforts further expand pharmacists’ roles in HIV prevention and treatment and advance evidence-based reforms to HIV criminalization laws.

He has served as a commissioner on the Louisiana Commission on HIV and Hepatitis C Education, Prevention and Treatment since 2020 and was elected vice chair in 2025. Dr. Nawas also played a key role in advancing Louisiana’s Act 711, which expanded pharmacists’ authority to initiate HIV PrEP and PEP statewide. He currently serves on the Louisiana Expert Advisory Panel for Pharmacists-Initiated HIV PrEP and PEP and is principal investigator at Xavier for the NIH-funded Pharmacists for Prevention project.

We asked Dr. Nawas, "In your professional opinion, what are three things everyone should know about PrEP?"

IT'S SAFE AND EFFECTIVE

"When taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of acquiring HIV through sex by about 99% and through injection drug use by at least 74%. Multiple FDA-approved options are available, including daily oral medications and long-acting injectables, allowing prevention to be tailored to individual needs."

IT'S PROTECTION, NOT JUDGEMENT

"It is designed for people who are HIV-negative and want to proactively prevent HIV, including those with HIV-positive partners, multiple sexual partners or injection drug use risk. PrEP empowers individuals to take control of their sexual health and helps reduce stigma."

THERE IS ACCESS THROUGH PHARMACISTS

"Pharmacists play a critical role through education, counseling, adherence support and linkage to care. Across the country, pharmacy-based PrEP models have proven safe and effective. In Georgia, pharmacists are highly accessible healthcare professionals who help patients navigate PrEP options while policy efforts continue to expand their authority to directly provide PrEP."

ICASA in Accra, Ghana

The 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, known as ICASA 2025, was held December 3–8 in Accra, Ghana, marking the first time the country hosted the landmark biennial conference. Convened at the Accra International Conference Centre, the event brought together scientists, advocates, policymakers and community leaders from across the continent and beyond.

Held under the theme Africa in Action: Catalysing Integrated Sustainable Responses to End AIDS, TB and Malaria, ICASA 2025 focused on accelerating progress against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria while strengthening health systems and advancing African-led solutions. Discussions addressed funding shifts, health sovereignty and equitable access to innovation amid evolving global health challenges.

Task Force member Dazon Dixon Diallo facilitated several forums and sessions centered on women and HIV, amplifying conversations around gender equity, prevention and care. Her leadership contributed to critical dialogue, elevating the experiences and voices of women impacted by HIV.



ICASA 2025 served as a powerful platform for collaboration and recommitment, reinforcing the role of African leadership in shaping sustainable responses to the HIV epidemic and broader public health priorities.

18th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health

The 18th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health was co-hosted by the National Institutes of Health and AcademyHealth and marked the largest turnout in the event’s history. Held in National Harbor, Maryland, the conference brought together researchers, practitioners and policymakers focused on strengthening the impact of implementation science.

Guided by the theme Realizing the Benefits of Dissemination and Implementation Science, the conference highlighted current and future efforts to maximize the reach and effectiveness of evidence-based interventions. Sessions emphasized translating research into practice and advancing equitable health outcomes.

The conference also provided critical research training in implementation science while elevating work focused on HIV prevention equity, reinforcing the role of D&I science in improving public health impact across communities.

World AIDS Day Tribute Recap

Dear Atlanta: A Tribute to World AIDS Day was a weeklong event held December 1–6, 2025, focused on building an AIDS-free generation. On December 5, the Satcher Health Leadership Institute hosted a daylong activation from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hugh Gloster Pavilion lobby, where community members gathered to honor lives impacted by HIV/AIDS.

As part of the event, participants created new panels for the AIDS Memorial Quilt in remembrance of loved ones lost to HIV/AIDS. The installation offered a powerful opportunity to reflect, raise awareness and stand in solidarity with communities committed to a future without AIDS.

The initiative expanded beyond remembrance into a storytelling movement, adding 225 new names to the AIDS Memorial Quilt and preserving the unique stories of Atlantans affected by HIV.