Howard University News July 24, 2013 Howard University College of Medicine Leads 6th Annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day This week marked the sixth annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day (NCHATAD), spearheaded by Howard University's College of Medicine. The University partnered with institutions nationwide to strengthen the HIV clinical workforce and increase clinicians' knowledge, awareness, and commitment to eradicate HIV/AIDS and stigma surrounding the disease within minority communities. On July 21, Howard worked with partners and congressional leaders to help reduce the stigma and barriers associated with routine HIV testing and to increase treatment capacity. This is part of the University's local, regional and national network plan to empower clinicians with training to increase their awareness about HIV/AIDS and to effectively test, refer and treat minorities living with HIV/AIDS. Over the past decade, Howard has educated and trained more than 43,000 clinicians nationwide to provide culturally competent quality HIV care. "Ongoing data shows that while the number of new HIV infections has been static, the number of people living with the virus is growing," said Goulda Downer, Ph.D., assistant professor of the Howard University College of Medicine and director of Howard's National AIDS Education and Training Center. "This indicates an urgent need for strengthening our clinical workforce - one that is not only willing, but simultaneously able to provide culturally appropriate, quality care." Earlier this year, Downer received the 2013 Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust Leadership in Advocacy Award on behalf of the University, for her work in strengthening the nation's clinical HIV workforce. Downer noted that currently over 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV and almost 1 in 5 (18.1%) is unaware of their infection. Individuals who are unaware of their HIV status may unknowingly and unintentionally transmit the virus to others. "This is not just a one-day event," said Downer, "As clinicians, we must continue to raise awareness daily and be empowered to provide effective and consistent support for our community with HIV/AIDS. " As community leaders, clinicians are positioned to be advocates of HIV testing. By setting an example and getting tested themselves, clinicians can take a bold and decisive stand towards reducing stigma and HIV/AIDS-related disparities among ethnic minorities. On this day, clinicians were urged to: 1) Set the example by taking an HIV test themselves, demonstrating how simple and non-intrusive HIV testing can be and increasing the number of clinicians offering routine HIV testing. 2) Become more engaged in ongoing dialogue on strategies for identifying and overcoming region-specific stigma and providing the best culturally appropriate, clinical care to all persons with HIV/AIDS. 3) Willingly mentor low-volume clinicians (i.e. clinicians treating fewer than 25 patients in their caseload who are HIV positive) so that they become more proficient in providing quality care. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.