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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Synchronicity
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T122000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T133000
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260211T180543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T184845Z
UID:10000222-1774009200-1774013400@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Forward in SYNChronicity through Advocacy
DESCRIPTION:Luncheon will be served at this plenary. \nMeet the challenges of today’s policy landscape with actionable strategies for igniting and sustaining change. This closing plenary session will examine how advocacy at different levels of the healthcare and prevention continuum can better move in concert together. Leading advocates will examine how policy change and service delivery can move together—from national strategy to community implementation. Drawing on experience from community organizing to global policy leadership\, the session will focus on how coordinated advocacy turns uncertainty into durable systems change—and where misalignment continues to slow prevention and care delivery and long-term sustainability. \nThis plenary session will engage participants in advocacy across HIV\, HCV\, STIs\, Drug User\, and LGBTQ Health\, Immunocompromised Communities\, and Health Equity\, and closes SYNC 2026 with a clear call to action as we move Forward in SYNChronicity through advocacy. \nLearning Objectives\n\nAssess how coordinated advocacy across federal\, state\, local\, and global levels shapes prevention and care delivery in today’s environments.\nExplain how policy advocacy is carried into practice—and where gaps in that translation continue to constrain system sustainability\, both long and short-term.\nEngage effectively in federal\, state\, local\, and global decision-making\, knowing where prevention and care delivery decisions are made and how advocates and providers can shape outcomes before disruptions.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/forward-in-synchronicity-through-advocacy/
LOCATION:Ballroom
CATEGORIES:Plenary
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Header-Plenary-LunchFriday.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T104500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T121500
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T145432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T181122Z
UID:10000116-1774003500-1774008900@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Threats to Reduce STI and HIV Prevention Funding: An Analysis of the Immediate Effects on Partner Services at the Houston Health Department
DESCRIPTION:Scaling back HIV and STI federal funds undermines decades of progress made in the public health realm. Domestic HIV and STI Prevention programs aim to provide essential services such as testing\, treatment and education\, to help decrease transmission of infectious diseases and improve health outcomes in the local communities. The Houston Health Department (HHD) relies mostly on federal grants to support staffing\, infrastructure and preventative services. The Partner Services program is especially crucial for contact tracing to prevent further spread of disease by tracking partners of individuals potentially infected with syphilis and HIV. HHD assessed the Partner Services program’s performance levels to determine if uncertainty in receiving federal funds\, which potentially contributed to a significant reduction in workforce\, had negatively impacted Public Health Follow Up (PHFU) activities.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/threats-to-reduce-sti-and-hiv-prevention-funding-an-analysis-of-the-immediate-effects-on-partner-services-at-the-houston-health-department/
LOCATION:Studio E
CATEGORIES:Power of Prevention,Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HIVPrevention.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T104500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T121500
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T144314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T175256Z
UID:10000113-1774003500-1774008900@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Justice Is the Intervention: Redesigning Harm Reduction within Black Communities
DESCRIPTION:The decline in drug-related fatalities in New Jersey over the past three years reflects progress in harm reduction\, yet racial disparities remain stark. Black and Hispanic communities continue to face disproportionate rates of drug-related deaths—51.4 and 38.9 per 100\,000\, respectively—compared to white residents. The Black Lives Matter Paterson Harm Reduction Center and Mobile Unit provides resources\, care\, and support to neglected populations through culturally responsive\, Black-centered mobile outreach. \nHarm reduction is not enabling. It meets marginalized people where they are\, gives those who use substances a touch point with the healthcare system\, reduces costs (from HIV\, Hep C\, OD)\, and leads to referrals to treatment when they are ready. The BLM Harm Reduction Center conducted pre-intervention surveys to measure the baseline access\, usage\, and viewpoints of individuals new to or unaware of the resources. A follow-up data collection survey was conducted after 6 months of the pre-survey to evaluate any changes in data and the program’s effectiveness by June 2025. \nThis approach demonstrates the critical role of direct and health justice-driven mobile harm reduction as both a community message and method to health equity. By focusing on culturally responsive\, people-focused\, and dignifying care\, this work reaches broader implications for serving disadvantaged communities in public health\, more specifically\, the intersectionality between HIV/STI prevention\, drug user health\, and recovery care.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/justice-is-the-intervention-redesigning-harm-reduction-within-black-communities/
LOCATION:Studio F
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HIVCareTreatment.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T173000
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T185411Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T173057Z
UID:10000190-1773936000-1773941400@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:From Position Paper to Advocacy: The Kentucky Nurses Association LGBTQ+ SNIPg (Special Nursing Interest Practice Group): Leadership Through Advocacy
DESCRIPTION:As 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. Over 70% of LGBTQ+ persons report discrimination when seeking healthcare. Over 50% who do not seek healthcare\, it is due to the fear of discrimination. In 2025\, over 550 bills nationwide have been introduced targeting the LGBTQ+ community. They have confirmed they no longer feel safe\, heard\, or cared for. Forming a LGBTQ+ SNIPg answered the call put before us by our Code of Ethics and statements by our professional organizations. \nFollowing Provisions 1\, 6\, and 9 of the 2025 Code of Ethics for Nurses\, we are bound to practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity\, worth\, and unique attributes of everyone in our care. We must ensure a safe and ethical work environment. We must articulate nursing values\, maintain the integrity of the profession\, and integrate principles of social justice into nursing and health policy. As leaders\, we moved from position papers to advocacy and practice. We are breaking barriers caused by fear\, often due to lack of education and understanding. This leads to an explicit bias of care. Our advocacy leaves the LGBTQ+ community valued\, supported\, and cared for in all aspects of their life!
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/from-position-paper-to-advocacy-the-kentucky-nurses-association-lgbtq-snipg-special-nursing-interest-practice-group-leadership-through-advocacy/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T173000
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T185131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T134206Z
UID:10000189-1773936000-1773941400@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Enhancing Service Delivery by Improving Referral Completion Rates for SDOH Needs
DESCRIPTION:Closing 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.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/enhancing-service-delivery-by-improving-referral-completion-rates-for-sdoh-needs/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T173000
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T185027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T172459Z
UID:10000188-1773936000-1773941400@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Breaking Barriers in HIV Prevention: Advancing PrEP Research While Rebuilding Trust in Black Communities
DESCRIPTION:This 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. \nThe presentation highlights key lessons learned during personal participation in a PrEP clinical trial including the emotional complexity of navigating research as both a subject and an advocate and offers insight into the ethical\, social\, and relational dimensions often missing from traditional public health approaches. Grounded in evidence and storytelling\, this session moves beyond “data awareness” toward “trust repair\,” emphasizing strategies for equitable study design\, culturally responsive recruitment\, and meaningful participant engagement. \nParticipants will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen community trust\, foster authentic partnerships between researchers and impacted populations\, and reframe participation in research not as a risk\, but as a form of advocacy\, agency\, and justice. Ultimately\, this session bridges the gap between scientific advancement and real-world impact by centering lived experience as a critical tool in ending the HIV epidemic.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/breaking-barriers-in-hiv-prevention-advancing-prep-research-while-rebuilding-trust-in-black-communities/
LOCATION:Studio D
CATEGORIES:Power of Prevention,Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HIVPrevention.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T141500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T154500
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T184449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T202705Z
UID:10000186-1773929700-1773935100@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Empowering Health Professionals to Advocate for Gender-Affirming Care: A Multi-Level Approach
DESCRIPTION:This 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. \nSkills Addressed: \n\nFraming messages to counter opposition to gender-affirming care.\nNavigating legislative processes to advocate for inclusive healthcare policies.\nBuilding partnerships with policymakers\, organizations\, and community advocates to advance transgender health equity.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/empowering-health-professionals-to-advocate-for-gender-affirming-care-a-multi-level-approach/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T141500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T154500
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T145031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T202355Z
UID:10000115-1773929700-1773935100@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Supporting Syndemic Approaches to Care in a Hostile Political Environment
DESCRIPTION:This session focuses on the way forward with syndemic approaches to eliminate HIV\, viral hepatitis\, and related epidemics in a political environment characterized by significantly diminished federal investment in infectious disease prevention and treatment\, and in overdose crisis response.  The goal is to explore the impact of Reductions in Force at HHS\, reduced funding to academic institutions\, and other funding and workforce changes on our capacity to end HIV\, viral hepatitis\, and overdose mortality\, with a particular focus on how these changes will impact adults over the age of 50; as well as exploring how syndemic approaches may provide opportunities to engage the expertise and resources of the remaining public health workforce to respond to these ongoing public health crises through innovative collaboration.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/supporting-syndemic-approaches-to-care-in-a-hostile-political-environment/
LOCATION:Studio C
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HIVPrevention.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T141500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T154500
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260119T191124Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T202109Z
UID:10000090-1773929700-1773935100@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Intercourse: Sex Ed for Congress
DESCRIPTION:A lack of equitable access to HIV/AIDS\, and STI prevention and treatment begins at a systematic level with a lack of comprehensive sex education\, including PrEP\, in schools. While the majority of states require HIV/AIDS education\, there are huge disparities in who receives said education and the quality of said information. This is further compounded by budget/appropriations and policy reforms\, which further strain the workforce capable of delivering comprehensive sex education. Inaccurate and stigmatizing education creates barriers to HIV prevention\, care\, testing\, and treatment for everyone – which further perpetuates inequities in care for marginalized populations\, especially among Black and Latino men\, MSM\, and transgender women. This presentation provides an update on federal reproductive healthcare and access litigation and policy\, and highlights strategies for systems change\, including policy reforms\, advocacy\, research\, collaboration\, and capacity-building to address the implications of unequal access to sex education.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/intercourse-sex-ed-for-congress/
LOCATION:Studio F
CATEGORIES:Power of Prevention,Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HIVPrevention.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T104500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T121500
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T170217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T154247Z
UID:10000165-1773917100-1773922500@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:An Indictment of US Public Health Policy on Pain and Addiction Management
DESCRIPTION:This 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.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/an-indictment-of-us-public-health-policy-on-pain-and-addiction-management/
LOCATION:Studio C
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-DrugUserHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T104500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T121500
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T160805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T153024Z
UID:10000139-1773917100-1773922500@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:I’m Not a Monster: Examining Media Bias and Stigma in Florida News Coverage of HIV-related Arrests
DESCRIPTION:This 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. These narratives contribute to public fear\, reinforce systemic biases\, and undermine public health efforts. The study offers recommendations for journalists and policymakers to promote accurate\, non-stigmatizing HIV reporting.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/im-not-a-monster-examining-media-bias-and-stigma-in-florida-news-coverage-of-hiv-related-arrests/
LOCATION:Studio B
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HealthEquity.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T104500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T121500
DTSTAMP:20260524T042309
CREATED:20260120T160438Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T160536Z
UID:10000137-1773917100-1773922500@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Bridging the Gap: Sexual Health Education as Prevention for Older Adults
DESCRIPTION:Older adults are increasingly affected by rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)\, yet they remain underserved in sexual health education efforts. This mixed-methods study evaluated the effectiveness of a tailored sexual health intervention designed to increase STI knowledge and explore attitudes\, beliefs\, and barriers to preventive behaviors among adults aged 65 and older. \nThe intervention\, delivered in small-group sessions at two community-based sexual health clinics in Southern California\, incorporated the CDC’s Safe in the City video and a culturally responsive STI brochure. A total of 77 participants completed pre- and post-intervention surveys using the validated STD-Knowledge Questionnaire\, and 15 participants completed semi-structured interviews before the intervention to provide contextual insight into their experiences. Quantitative findings demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in STI knowledge after the intervention (p < .001)\, with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.83)\, indicating that brief\, targeted education can meaningfully strengthen understanding of STI prevention among older adults. \nQualitative analysis identified recurring themes of perceived exclusion from sexual health messaging\, mistrust in healthcare communication\, and persistent structural barriers which included stigma\, language inaccessibility\, limited access to services\, and immigration-related concerns\, that hinder engagement in preventive behaviors. Together\, these results illustrate that while tailored education is effective in improving knowledge\, broader systemic and social barriers continue to shape preventive decision-making among aging populations. \nThis study highlights the importance of culturally responsive\, age-appropriate interventions and underscores the need for comprehensive structural strategies to reduce disparities and promote equitable sexual health outcomes for aging populations.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/bridging-the-gap-sexual-health-education-as-prevention-for-older-adults/
LOCATION:Studio B
CATEGORIES:Power of Prevention,Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HealthEquity.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR