In 2023, 1,686 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in New York City, with Brooklyn reporting the highest rate and 19% concurrent AIDS diagnoses. To address these disparities, the NYU Langone Family Health Centers’ Community Medicine Program (CMP)—a collaboration with the NYC shelter system—integrated medical services directly within shelters to improve outcomes among unstably housed individuals. After piloting a part-time patient navigator to support HIV-positive patients with linkage and retention in care, the program demonstrated early success and secured a grant in December 2024 to expand into a status-neutral navigation model.
This session explores how CTCA blends peer-led support, expressive arts, cultural rituals, and critical consciousness to foster emotional wellness, increase HIV care retention, and support prevention. Participants will engage with evidence-based strategies and real-world examples demonstrating CTCA’s success in improving health outcomes while affirming identity and restoring community connection.
As people living with HIV (PLWH) age, cognitive decline presents a growing yet underaddressed challenge. This presentation highlights an innovative collaboration between The Grand Rapids Red Project (TGRRP) and the Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter (AAMC) to implement routine cognitive screenings within TGRRP’s HIV care programs. The initiative targets PLWH aged 44+ and those exhibiting overt cognitive impairment, aiming to bridge gaps in care complexity for aging populations.
In this presentation, AAMC will review national trends in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and statewide efforts to develop programming for aging PLWH through partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs). With AAMC’s support, TGRRP designed an HIV and aging pilot program featuring tailored screening tools, staff training, and referral pathways—offering replicable strategies for similar programs.
What happens when wisdom meets innovation, and lived experience meets digital fluency? This dynamic, intergenerational and interracial session explores how people across decades and racial identities navigate dating, disclosure, and desire in the age of PrEP, U=U, and mobile technology.
In collaboration with Columbia Psychiatry and New York Public Library, the community mental health project was created to address the impact of mental health on the Black and Afro-Latino communities in NYC, especially during and right after the COVID-19 pandemic. The intervention aims to engage the community in discussion around mental health and thus minimize stigma and advocate for innovative strategies to increase the utilization of mental health services within the community.
This session will provide an overview of how Deaf Community Advocacy Network (Deaf C.A.N.!) Deaf HIV Program addresses the unique challenges of PWLH who are Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing navigating Ryan White Services. Through provider assessments and cultural competency training, client assessments and workshops to improve health literacy on HIV prevention and HIV treatment, and workshops for interpreters to increase their understanding of ever growing HIV terminology such as viral load suppression and U=U, Deaf C.A.N.! has expanded their case management services from 7 counties in the Detroit Metropolitan Area to the entire state of Michigan, increased partnerships, and improved client satisfaction
The purpose of this study is to address the health inequities among key populations living with HIV through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) mixed-methods study designed to adapt and pilot-test STEPS to Care (StC), a CDC-endorsed evidence-based intervention. This intervention consists of three person-centered, evidence-informed strategies to improve retention in HIV care, adherence to antiretroviral therapies, and reduce viral load, which include: Patient Navigation, Care Team Coordination, and HIV Self-Management.
Recent data from the U.S estimated that over half (57%) of transgender women (TW), aged 50+, are living with HIV. Findings lacked analysis by age, gender, and race/ethnicity, but found 62% HIV prevalence among Black trans women, suggesting potential HIV disparities for older TW of color. This study focused on HIV outcomes and health services access for TW aged 50 and older, making important contributions to the context of care for this population sub-group, who shoulder disproportionately high HIV prevalence. Findings highlight the critical role of support services in HIV care engagement and the potential for expanded access and intergenerational peer support programs to ameliorate HIV-related disparities based on age and race.
In this session, participants will learn about the core elements of a community -based syndemic approach to HIV care engagement to enhance capacity to support PLWH throughout the HIV care continuum. This workshop will demonstrate how community health workers improve involvement in comprehensive prevention services.
This systematic review explores the role of CAB + RPV-LA injectables in antiretroviral therapy (ART), with a focus on patient-reported outcomes from five key clinical trials.
This session presents data from the National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (2023) conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to present the current state of availability of testing and treatment services for HIV, HCV, and STIs.
Older adults living with HIV—especially Black gay men aged 50 and over—face compounding challenges including stigma, fragmented care, and under-resourced behavioral health services. This session highlights strategies from the Aging and HIV Institute (A&H), a California-based think tank dedicated to bridging HIV and aging service systems.
Having previously reported on clinical outcomes of Adolescents and Young Adults with HIV (AYAHIV) in the Accessing Care Early (ACE) young adult transition program, we present an update, detailing the design and implementation of this multi-dimensional program, the innovations in biomedical and care delivery interventions, as well as programmatic challenges and opportunities as we evolve into a mature transition program. This workshop will use didactics and interactive presentation, case-study, transparent panel discussion and Q&A as participants engage with the ACE program’s multidisciplinary team, including an YAHIV who “came of age” in the program.
With advancements in HIV treatment, individuals living with HIV are now living longer, By 2030, 70% of people living with HIV (PLWH) will be ages 50 and older. But, as PLWH age they face unique challenges, particularly with cognitive health. One major concern is HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), a form of cognitive decline more common among PLWH. This presentation will provide a brief overview of HIV care; the signs and risk factors for HAND; similarities and differences between HAND and Alzheimer's disease; and why accurately diagnosing cognitive change in PLWH is so important.
This presentation will explore critical considerations in the management of HIV in the context of pregnancy, focusing on evidence-based practices and clinical guidelines. Divided into three clinically relevant scenarios, the session will address: (1) treatment and monitoring of HIV in pregnant individuals, (2) postnatal management of infants with in utero exposure to HIV, and (3) considerations for HIV-positive parents who plan to breastfeed. Each topic will be anchored by a clinical case, offering participants an opportunity to apply current guidelines. Emphasis will be placed on reducing risk of perinatal HIV transmission, optimizing maternal and infant outcomes, and navigating ethical and cultural factors in decision making. Attendees will leave with practical clinical pearls and an updated understanding of best practices in HIV care during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
The employment landscape for PLWH in the Hartford Transitional Grant Area (TGA) presents significant challenges. According to the 2022 Statewide Needs Assessment Survey, 54.46% of PLWH were unemployed, with 59.46% unemployment within the TGA. Among respondents, 78% of individuals over 50 lacked access to career and life skills training, limiting their ability to secure stable, fulfilling employment.
This interactive session explores the intersection of aging, race, gender identity, and sexuality through the lens of Black LGBTQ+/SGL individuals living with HIV. Drawing from lived experiences and frameworks like Aging While Black by Raymond Jetson, the session redefines aging not as decline, but as a site for power, healing, and systemic transformation.
In this transformative session, we will delve into the powerful potential of long-acting injectable (LAI) strategies to not only prevent and treat HIV but to foster deeper, more meaningful healthcare engagement. With a focus on the tangible and intangible benefits of LAI therapy, this session will equip healthcare providers with practical insights and tools to optimize patient care and health outcomes. Participants will explore the multidimensional benefits of LAI therapy, highlighting how regular clinic visits can strengthen patient-provider relationships, enhance overall well-being, and create opportunities for broader health interventions.
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.
Important Notice: We have received reports of companies falsely claiming to sell SYNChronicity Conference attendee lists and related services. These solicitations are scams and are not affiliated with SYNChronicity, HealthHIV, HealthHCV, or the National Coalition for LGBTQ Health. Do not engage with these organizations. For questions about conference communications or vendors, contact us directly.
In 2023, 1,686 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in New York City, with Brooklyn reporting the highest rate and 19% concurrent AIDS diagnoses. To address these disparities, the NYU Langone Family Health Centers’ Community Medicine Program (CMP)—a collaboration with the NYC shelter system—integrated medical services directly within shelters to improve outcomes among unstably housed individuals. After piloting a part-time patient navigator to support HIV-positive patients with linkage and retention in care, the program demonstrated early success and secured a grant in December 2024 to expand into a status-neutral navigation model.
