July 2026

The President's Perspective - Leading Together

This Year's Conference has Something for Everyone!

Welcome to the first Leading Together! column. Each month, I’ll share updates on what your Board of Directors is working on, offer a look behind the scenes at our preparations, highlight ways you can get involved, and celebrate how our members are advancing HIV care worldwide. I hope these updates help you feel more connected to ANAC and the amazing community we’ve built together.

That spirit of connection is core to this year's conference theme, Bridges Over Borders: Advancing HIV Care Through Community Connectedness and Health Equity. The theme reflects who we are as HIV nurses. Every day, we create connections between research, practice, community, education, and, most importantly, between people.

ANAC2026 truly offers something for everyone. Whether you’re new to HIV care or have years of experience as a clinician, researcher, educator, administrator, advanced practice provider, student, or community partner, you’ll find sessions that inform, challenge, and inspire. Our Conference Planning Committee has built a program that represents our diverse membership and addresses many of the important issues in HIV care today.

This year’s plenary sessions, invited talks, and presentations cover a wide range of timely topics. These include HIV prevention and treatment, substance use, aging with HIV, transgender health, immigration and border health, implementation science, nurse-led HIV initiatives, creative ways to educate the public through social media, and advancing HIV science in the rapidly changing research landscape. In addition to the educational and research sessions, new networking activities offer opportunities to connect with colleagues, mentors, and future collaborators.

If you’ve attended ANAC conferences before, you’ll enjoy the new ideas and innovations we’ve added this year. If this is your first conference, you’ll find an inclusive community that welcomes new voices, values different perspectives, and helps build lasting professional relationships.

Thank you for everything you do to improve the lives of people living with and affected by HIV. I look forward to welcoming you to San Diego this November as we learn from each other, strengthen our connections, and keep building the future of HIV care together.

This month’s invitation: I invite you to register for ANAC2026, encourage a colleague to come along, and think about joining one of ANAC’s committees or volunteer opportunities. Your ideas, expertise, and involvement make our organization stronger.

Darcel Reyes, PhD, ANP-BC, FNYAM, FAAN
President, ANAC Board of Directors

Policy & Advocacy Watch

ANAC featured in National Public Health Response

ANAC Executive Director Dr. Shey Thorn was recently featured in a national press release from Defend Public Health highlighting widespread opposition to a proposed federal grant rule that many public health organizations believe could impact research and healthcare funding.

In his comments, Dr. Thorn emphasized the importance of ensuring healthcare providers can openly address the social determinants of health, including race, sexual orientation, gender identity, stigma, housing instability, and poverty, to provide effective HIV prevention and treatment services. He also noted concerns that the proposed restrictions could have significant implications for communities disproportionately affected by HIV.

ANAC remains committed to advancing evidence-based HIV care, advocating for policies that support equitable healthcare, and amplifying the voices of nurses and healthcare professionals working on the front lines.

Read the full article to learn more about the proposed rule and the broader public health response.

Global

ANAC at AIDS 2026

ANAC will be hosting the Nursing Networking Zone at the International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, starting July 26, with four days of conversations built around one question: As we rebuild and rethink the HIV response, what does it look like for nurses to have a seat at the table?

Each day tackles a different piece of that puzzle, Research, Education, Practice, Advocacy & Policy through facilitated roundtables. Come with your own experience, leave having shaped what we bring to policy makers and donors afterwards.

Schedule details are coming soon, so keep an eye on our socials (Facebook, Instagram) for speaker announcements and session times.

If you're attending and want to help out in the Zone, contact Mwikali at mwikali@anacnet.org.

Chapters & Committees

New to ANAC mixer hosted by the Membership Committee

Whether you're attending your first ANAC Conference, joining us as a student, traveling from abroad or simply looking to meet new colleagues, we invite you to kick off your conference experience at the New to ANAC Mixer, hosted by the Membership Committee at ANAC2026.

This fun, interactive networking event is designed to help you make connections, meet fellow attendees and get acquainted with the ANAC community before the conference gets underway. It's the perfect opportunity to build new relationships, expand your network and start your conference with confidence.

We'll see you in San Diego! Be sure to keep checking the conference schedule and mobile app for the latest information on the mixer, including the date, time, location and other exciting conference events.

Stay Connected Locally

Did you know that one of the best ways to make the most of your ANAC membership is by getting involved with your local chapter?

ANAC chapters provide opportunities to connect with colleagues in your region through educational programs, networking events, community outreach and professional collaboration. Whether you're looking to expand your professional network, share best practices, develop your leadership skills or become more involved in HIV advocacy, your local chapter is a great place to start.

Not sure where your nearest chapter is, or interested in starting one in your area? ANAC offers resources to help members connect with existing chapters or explore opportunities to establish a new one. Together, our chapters strengthen the ANAC community and advance excellence in HIV care at the local level.

Get connected today! Visit the Chapters page to find a chapter near you, learn more about chapter activities, or explore how to start a chapter in your community.

Member Announcement

Email phishing scams

We want to make you aware of phishing emails members are receiving impersonating ANAC leadership.

These fraudulent messages may claim that the sender is unable to speak by phone, ask you to keep the request confidential and request that you purchase gift cards or send funds on their behalf. Please remember that ANAC leadership will never ask members to purchase gift cards, send money, or make financial transactions via email.

If you receive a suspicious message that appears to come from an ANAC leader:

Do not respond.

Do not click any links or provide any information.

Do not purchase gift cards or send funds.

Mark the message as phishing or spam in your email client.

Forward the message to ANAC so we can help monitor and address the issue.

If you are ever uncertain whether a communication from ANAC is legitimate, please contact us directly at anac@anacnet.org before taking any action.

In Memoriam: Andrew Komensky

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Andrew Komensky, a beloved member, mentor, colleague and friend to so many within ANAC. Andrew leaves behind an indelible mark and an enduring legacy through his leadership at both the chapter and national levels, as well as his invaluable contributions to the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB).

As a dedicated leader within ANAC, Andrew served on the National Board of Directors, chaired the committee for the organization's 25th Anniversary Annual Conference, led the Chapters Committee and served as a member of the Bylaws Committee. He also served as Treasurer and a Board member of HANCB, where he was instrumental in modernizing the certification process and was a passionate advocate for LPN certification—an accomplishment he considered among his proudest achievements. In recognition of his many contributions to HIV nursing and certification, Andrew received the inaugural HANCB Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

At the chapter level, Andrew helped establish the South Carolina chapter and was an integral member of the Rhode Island chapter, serving in multiple leadership roles over the years. Certified in both HIV Nursing and Infection Prevention, he most recently served as Director of Infection Prevention and Employee Health at CharterCARE Health of Rhode Island.

Yet beyond his many titles and accomplishments, Andrew will be remembered most for the way he made people feel. He embodied compassion, kindness, generosity, and quiet wisdom. He gave freely of his time, knowledge and experience, always accompanied by a warm smile, an encouraging word, and a wonderful sense of humor. Andrew mentored generations of nurse leaders—including many within ANAC—with remarkable humility and an uncommon ability to recognize the gifts and potential in others long before they saw them in themselves. His passion for advocacy, mentorship and equitable care left an enduring impact on the nursing profession and on the countless individuals whose lives he touched.

Our heartfelt condolences are extended to his husband, Archangelo Sorvillo; his sister, Susan Komensky; his brother, Richard Komensky; his nephew, Nicholas; and his extended family, friends and colleagues.

Andrew was an extraordinary human being whose absence will be deeply felt throughout our ANAC community and beyond. While we mourn his loss, we also celebrate a life defined by compassion, integrity, service, and an unwavering commitment to others. His legacy will live on in the nurses he mentored, the patients he championed, the profession he helped shape, and the many lives he enriched.

Education & Professional Development

Nursing Perspectives webinar series continues

Join us on Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. ET for the second webinar in the four-part Nursing Perspectives series, presented by ANAC and sponsored by Gilead Sciences.

Keeping the Door Open: How the Science of Engagement Can Help You Have Impactful Conversations will focus on how motivational interviewing can strengthen patient-provider communication, build trust and support informed, patient-centered conversations about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Through practical strategies and real-world examples, participants will learn techniques to foster meaningful engagement and support individuals in achieving their HIV prevention goals. Register now.

Upcoming Conference & Events

ANAC2026: San Diego

Official conference hotel

Book your room now at the Sheraton San Diego Resort. It offers amenities like morning yoga, free bicycle and paddle board rentals and a complimentary shuttle to and from the San Diego International Airport.

Seeking sponsors and exhibitors

Be a part of ANAC2026 and get your company or organization noticed! Our sponsors and exhibitors receive great benefits and recognition opportunities throughout the conference.

Member Benefits & Opportunities

Member Benefit Spotlight: Make your voice heard

ANAC empowers members to advocate for equitable, evidence-based HIV care and policies that improve health outcomes. Through advocacy initiatives, educational resources and collaborative efforts, members can help shape the future of HIV care.

Every voice matters, and together, we make a stronger impact.

Take action: Visit ANAC's Advocacy Center to explore current advocacy priorities, access advocacy resources and toolkits, review ANAC position statements and discover ways to make your voice heard on issues impacting HIV care and the nursing profession.

Staff Highlight

Get to know the ANAC staff

Nakera Dumas Miller, PMP

Membership Manager

Virginia

As ANAC's Membership Manager, I focus on creating meaningful experiences that help members connect, engage and thrive throughout their membership journey. I oversee membership recruitment, retention, onboarding and engagement initiatives while working closely with our chapters, committees and volunteers to ensure members have opportunities to get involved and make the most of their ANAC membership. I also support organizational membership initiatives, member communications (like our newsletter and member spots) and programs that strengthen our growing community.

Key highlights:

The best part of my role is connecting members with the people, resources and opportunities that help them grow both professionally and personally. Whether it's welcoming a new member, supporting chapter leaders, highlighting member accomplishments or creating new ways for members to engage, I enjoy helping people find their place within ANAC. It is incredibly rewarding to support a community of professionals who are dedicated to advancing HIV care, reducing stigma and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities around the world.

What's next/What I'm currently working on:

Right now, I'm focused on enhancing the member experience through new engagement opportunities, supporting our chapters and committees, expanding organizational membership and planning exciting networking and onboarding activities for ANAC2026. I'm also working on new ways to help members discover the many benefits of ANAC and build meaningful connections throughout the year while juggling being a new mom and wife!

2025 Award Feature

HIV Educator Distinguished Service Award

Raymond “Austin” Nation, PhD, RN, PHN, NE-BC

This award recognizes an outstanding ANAC member who, through HIV education, has impacted the lives of those they have instructed, whether it be patients, clients, families, students, health care providers, community groups or the general public.

Dr. Nation is a doctoral graduate of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) – School of Nursing, Community Health Systems. He has been a nurse for over 40 years and is currently an Associate Professor at California State University (CSU), Fullerton. Dr. Nation completed his Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in leadership and education from California State University, Fullerton

Frank Lamendola Achievement Award for Nursing Leadership in HIV Care

Justin Alves, RN, MSN, ACRN, CARN, CNE, AACRN

This award honors an exceptional nurse leader who has demonstrated vision, leadership, and a significant impact on HIV care through research, education, professional service, or scholarly contributions. Named in memory of Frank Lamendola, the award recognizes those whose leadership has advanced HIV nursing and improved the lives of people living with HIV.

Justin is a clinical nurse educator with Boston Medical Center’s Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance, where he contributes to peer-reviewed publications, evidence-based clinical guidelines, development and delivery of continuing education programs, and other resources for providers supporting patients with substance use disorders. Justin is also a primary care nurse practitioner at Boston Medical Center and the nursing director of a housing first program operated by the Justice Resource Institute, Inc.