SYNC 2026 Agenda
The schedule presented here is subject to change as the agenda is finalized.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
THURSDAY, MARCH 19
This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.
Health Advocacy/Policy
Sessions for March 19, 2026
I’m Not a Monster: Examining Media Bias and Stigma in Florida News Coverage of HIV-related Arrests
Studio BThis study examines media bias and stigma in Florida news coverage of HIV-related arrests from 2010 to 2020. A systematic content analysis of 129 news articles revealed disproportionate racial and gender portrayals, with Black men overrepresented as perpetrators despite data showing White women constitute the majority of those arrested. Findings indicate widespread use of stigmatizing language and sensationalized reporting, which amplify public misconceptions about HIV transmission and criminalization.
An Indictment of US Public Health Policy on Pain and Addiction Management
Studio CThis presentation addresses the intersection of issues in health equity and justice, versus health advocacy and policy, to identify and contradict the significant misdirection and fatal errors of science in recent opioid prescribing guidelines of the US CDC and Veterans Administration with a critical review of published clinical and demographic data on safety and effectiveness of prescription opioid analgesic pain relievers.
Intercourse: Sex Ed for Congress
Studio F
Empowering Health Professionals to Advocate for Gender-Affirming Care: A Multi-Level Approach
Potomac AThis session will train health professionals to become effective advocates for gender-affirming care at the institutional, state, and federal levels. Amid growing legislative, administrative, and regulatory challenges to transgender health care, health professionals have a unique role and responsibility to advocate for inclusive, evidence-based policies. This session will provide participants with actionable tools to address barriers to care, counter misinformation, and build coalitions to support gender-affirming care access.
Breaking Barriers in HIV Prevention: Advancing PrEP Research While Rebuilding Trust in Black Communities
Studio DThis presentation explores the evolution of HIV prevention through the perspective of a Black woman, Community Health Advocate, and clinical research participant deeply engaged in advancing PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) innovation. While biomedical advancements from daily oral PrEP to long acting injectables have expanded prevention options, Black communities remain underrepresented in research and disproportionately impacted by persistent barriers to access. Through a lived-experience narrative, this session examines how medical mistrust, historical trauma, and unequal power dynamics shape community attitudes toward clinical research and preventive care.
Enhancing Service Delivery by Improving Referral Completion Rates for SDOH Needs
Potomac AClosing the loop on Social Determinants of Health ensures that referrals to supportive services such as housing, food and mental health are not only initiated but also completed, tracked, and resolved, This approach strengthens care coordination, reduces barriers to retention, and promotes health equity by addressing non-medical factors that impact overall well being.
From Position Paper to Advocacy: The Kentucky Nurses Association LGBTQ+ SNIPg (Special Nursing Interest Practice Group): Leadership Through Advocacy
Potomac AAs a nation, we had made great strides in protecting the basic rights of LGBTQ+ persons including their access to appropriate, quality care. For Kentucky LGBTQ+ persons, the passage of Kentucky SB 150 in 2023, progressively began the stripping away of these rights thus putting their well-being and even their lives at risk.
Accreditation, Credit, and Support
Information on credits offered to SYNC participants for attending institutes, sessions, and plenaries — live or in-person — is available here.
Commercial Support Acknowledgement
This conference is supported, in part, by independent educational grants from ineligible companies. A full list of supporters is available here. All accredited content has been developed and delivered in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence and the criteria of Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education™, and is free of commercial bias.

