Facebook Live: Discussion about viral suppression with people living with HIVAt the recently-concluded U.S. Conference on AIDS (USCA) in Hollywood, Florida, we used Facebook Live

USCA Conference Opening

As the conference opened, we spoke with Kaye Hayes and Ken Williams about why they find the annual conference important, what they’ve enjoyed most so far, and what they are looking forward to seeing over the next four days. Kaye is the Executive Director of PACHA. Ken is a blogger (“Ken Like BarbieExit Disclaimer, speaker, and activist. View their conversation hereExit Disclaimer.

Viral Hepatitis at USCA

Sessions on viral hepatitis were woven throughout the conference. To learn more about them, we caught up with Corinna Dan and Mariah Johnson. Corinna is the Viral Hepatitis Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy and Mariah is a Senior Manager for Hepatitis and Policy and Legislative Affairs at the National Alliance for State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTADExit Disclaimer). View their conversation hereExit Disclaimer.

Addressing HIV in Native American and Alaska Native Communities

We also heard about activities underway to respond to HIV in the Native American and Alaska Native communities in a Facebook Live event featuring Rick Haverkate and Kurt Begaye. Rick is, Deputy Director of Clinical and Preventive Services at the Indian Health Service, and Kurt is a capacity building specialist. View their conversation hereExit Disclaimer or below.

PACHA at USCA

Scott Shoettes and Gabriel Maldonado from the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) spoke with PACHA’s Executive Director Kaye Hayes about the community discussion PACHA held at the conference. Scott is the HIV Project Director and Senior Attorney at Lambda Legal, and Gabriel is CEO of TruEvolution, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting for LGBT justice and advocating for the prevention and elimination of HIV/AIDS in America. View their conversation hereExit Disclaimer or below.

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SMAIF Investments Supporting HIV Response among Black Gay Men

Another Facebook Live event put a spotlight on a two current initiatives supported by investments from the Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative Fund (SMAIF) that aim to improve outcomes Black gay, bisexual, and same-gender loving men at risk for or living with HIV. The conversation featured Harold Phillips, Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS Training and Capacity Development at HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau and Anthony James, a Regional Prevention Coordinator Supervisor with the Louisiana Office of Public Health’s STD and HIV Program. View their conversation hereExit Disclaimer or below.

USCA Social Media Fellows

We also had an opportunity to speak en español with two fellows from the 2016 USCA Social Media Fellows Program. This initiative aims to create and cultivate the HIV community’s youth leadership and their use of digital platforms to amplify messages. Alex Castro-Croy and Jesus Manuel Cotto Carrero sat down with Michael Alonso of the Broward County Health Department for our first-ever Facebook Live event en español. View their conversation hereExit Disclaimer or below.



“In using Facebook Live, I am able to discuss and inform others in real-time (unrehearsed) what is impacting our community and how it impacts each person. Being part of the first Spanish HIV.gov Facebook live, was a great experience that has exposed me to other people in the Latino community that have questions and lacked resources for HIV prevention in their community. The constant sharing of the video has also lead to connecting to other leaders in the Latino Community that can serve as support and resources in the future.” - Alex Castro, 2016 USCA Social Media fellow and Owner/ Director, Life Recovery Centers, Colorado

Conversation among People Living with HIV about Viral Suppression

Dr. Rich Wolitski, Acting Director of the HHS Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP), hosted a discussion with four other people living with HIV about viral suppression to capture some of the conversations going on in the halls and over coffee at USCA. They were: Murray Penner of NASTAD; Gina Brown of the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies and a member of PACHA or below.

Closing Reflections from Dr. Wolitski

Rich shared his perspective on some of the interesting things coming out of the conference, including discussion of the data on viral suppression, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and the importance of addressing social determinants of health. View the Facebook Live event hereExit Disclaimer or below.

We hope these videos gave insight to some of the conversations at #2016USCA Exit Disclaimer. You can learn more about Facebook Live here. Remember, we love hearing from you and it’s not too late to share your views via a Facebook comment as you watch each video.