Charles King, CEO, Housing Works
Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, Chair, New York State AIDS Advisory Council

James V. McDonald, MD, MPH
Commissioner of Health
New York State Department of Health

Marlene McNeese
Deputy Assistant Director
Houston Health Department
Houston, Texas
Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) Co-Chair

Joseph Kerwin
Director
AIDS Institute New York State Department of Health

Sarah Braunstein, PhD, MPH
Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and Sexually Transmitted Infections
Division of Disease Control
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – City of New York

Welcome Home—Supportive Housing in New York State
Housing instability is a structural syndemic factor that can have a significant impact on HIV outcomes, including access to care, viral suppression, and behaviors that can increase the risk of HIV transmission. This compelling plenary session will explore the navigation of obtaining safe, secure and affordable housing in New York State funded by the AIDS Institute. Formerly homeless/unstably housed individuals will describe how supportive housing has impacted their life, their health, and the experience of going from homeless to housed in a volatile environment.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV in Black and Brown New York
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV) is a critical tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS, offering significant protection for individuals at high risk for infection. In communities of color, where HIV rates can be disproportionately high due to various socioeconomic factors, PrEP can be particularly transformative. During this plenary, the audience will have the opportunity to hear directly from New Yorkers who represent communities of color as they share their own unique experiences surrounding PrEP usage and the impact it has had on their everyday lives.