Public Health Spotlight

Public Health Spotlight

Highlighting the people and projects of AHF’s Public Health Division

GUEST BIO:

Alex Goncalves is the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Senior Director for Public Health, overseeing the wellness testing and mobile programs nationally for AHF. He’s been with the organization for 12 years, and has been working in the HIV field since 2001.

Greg Jacques is the Director of Testing and Wellness with a focus on the Southern Bureau. He’s been with AHF for 11 years, beginning as a tester. His background before AHF was in disease intervention for local health departments.

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[8:56] - Battling Stigma for Public Health

Social justice and health rolled into one

Battling stigma is essential for helping treat patients in need. One strategy has been the normalization of HIV testing, particularly in urban settings. There’s no hiding the HIV label— by design— because AHF wants to make HIV testing something that’s done regularly in at-risk communities, just like going to the dentist or getting a flu shot.

[19:53] - Available, Nonjudgemental & Sex Positive

Changing how we talk about and address HIV

Mobile testing units are an essential part of the AHF mission, and the way these units are executed speaks to the culture and mission at AHF. Nonjudgemental and sex-positive messages are everywhere in these MTUs, from the free condoms available to the educational posters that are all about being responsible as patients enjoy healthy sex lives. This is a strategic choice on the part of AHF to continue destigmatizing HIV in the communities that most need that change of perspective.

[25:04] - Career Opportunities in Public Health

Where to start your journey to service

Alex and Greg recommend taking a look at the internship program through the human resource department. Many full time AHF employees began as interns, going on to become HIV testers, researchers, and even healthcare center workers. You can also work with a local PHD manager if you’re already working with AHF in order to get involved with onsite events.

RESOURCES:

• [4:03] Out of the Closet Program
• [12:27] About Michael Weinstein
• [13:59] About Healthvana
• [24:00] About PrEP

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ABOUT AFTER HOURS:

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.

The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success. 

Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org

ABOUT THE HOST:

Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a series of roles with the Foundation since 2016. She’s passionate about increasing the public visibility of AIDS, the Foundation's critical work, and how everyday people can help join the fight to make cutting-edge medicine, treatment, and support available for anyone who needs it.

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