June Action Report

PARTNER  IMPACT

Our Members in Action

In recognition of the 45th anniversary of the CDC's first reported AIDS cases and National HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day, leaders from Alchemy, CVS Health, Healthvana, Mercer, Merck, and ViiV Healthcare joined NMAC's Congressional Roundtable on Capitol Hill. Business leaders were joined by former directors of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, members of Congress, long-term survivors, and community leaders.

The convening, held in partnership with the Congressional HIV Caucus, the Equality Caucus, and the Democratic Task Force for Aging and Families, centered on bold strategies to end the epidemic and the private sector's role in closing gaps in access, care delivery, and education.

RADcube and Versante incorporated the Coalition’s National HIV Testing Day Employer Playbook into their internal corporate wellness toolkit and standard operating practices, contributing to an impressive 27% increase in HIV/STI testing and overall wellness engagement across their workforce.

Gilead Sciences' GLOBE employee resource group marked Juneteenth with "The Science of Art: Freedom of Choice," a panel created and moderated by Gilead's Samantha Stokes, exploring how partnerships across music, film, and culture can drive HIV awareness and sexual health engagement for the communities most affected. The session brought together Grammy-winning artist Raheem DeVaughn, Duke University's Dr. Schenita Randolph, filmmaker and coalition member Nathan Hale Williams from iN-Hale Entertainment, and FAMU professor Dr. Jazmyne Simmons to examine how culturally resonant storytelling translates into real health action.

On June 5, National Long-Term Survivors Day, MISTR reflected on 45 years since the CDC's first report of what would become the HIV epidemic and the role telehealth is playing in writing the next chapter. The company, now serving roughly one in five people on PrEP in the U.S., named access, not science, as the defining challenge ahead.

ViiV Healthcare's Randevyn Pierre joined business, philanthropy, government, and nonprofit leaders at the Social Innovation Summit to discuss the company's work to connect people to HIV care, strengthen local systems, and disrupt persistent health disparities. The conversation reinforced a through line in ViiV's approach, that lasting change happens when organizations and communities build solutions together, meeting people where they are.

PROGRAM IMPACT

Our Coalition in Action

Is Your Company Interested in Partnering With a Local HIV Organization?

U.S. Business Action to End HIV is excited to unveil our new Local Impact Program, a matchmaking platform connecting businesses with local community-based HIV organizations to explore partnership opportunities. Whether collaborating on educational workshops, volunteer opportunities, fundraising, or more, both sides of the partnership benefit.

Companies interested in exploring potential community partnerships can complete the Business Partner Registration to tell us how they want to engage, and the Coalition will help find you a match.

Community organizations interested in partnering with businesses can apply as a Community Partner here.

Health in the Age of Influence: Hollywood + HIV's Roundtable Debut

The Coalition's new Hollywood + HIV Collective made its programming debut this month, partnering with The Impact Guild to host "Health in the Age of Influence," a virtual roundtable on how health narratives get built and distributed at scale.

Gilead Sciences' Samantha Stokes and Social Currant founder and CEO Ashwath Narayanan joined Health Action Alliance co-founder and co-CEO Stephen Massey for the conversation, along with Ashley Kolaya, executive director of the Mental Health Storytelling Initiative.

Throughout the program, a consistent theme emerged: the communicators making the most progress are not just running better campaigns. They are building the connective tissue, including trusted messengers, long-term relationships, and community infrastructure, which keeps working after the campaign ends.

Read more about the event and key learnings here.

GET INVOLVED

Opportunities for Action

Take Action on National HIV Testing Day — June 27

Our refreshed National HIV Testing Day Playbook for Employers is ready to use. Whether you're posting on social media, sending an internal note to employees, or hosting a testing event, the toolkit has everything you need, including a ready-to-send internal communications template. Pick one thing and do it. Then tell us so we can spotlight your work in the July newsletter.

The Saving Ourselves Symposium Returns to Atlanta — and Needs Your Support

The Saving Ourselves Symposium (SOS), hosted by the Southern AIDS Coalition, returns August 20–23 in Atlanta, timed intentionally to coincide with Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Now in its thirteenth year, SOS is one of the South's premier convenings dedicated to the health and leadership of Black LGBTQIA+ communities, bringing together advocates, healthcare leaders, policymakers, funders, and community organizers working to end new HIV diagnoses in the region. This year's theme, Collective Action for Collective Impact, underscores the cross-sector collaboration that the moment demands. Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels. 

Attend the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS in September

The U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) — the nation's largest convening across the HIV movement — returns September 17–20 in Anaheim, CA. This year marks both the forty-fifth year of the HIV movement and USCHA's thirtieth anniversary, convened under the theme "United and Unbreakable."

For business members, USCHA is a rare opportunity to engage directly with clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and frontline providers in one place — and to deepen the partnerships that make private sector commitments more effective. Early bird registration is available through June 29. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are also available for companies that want to elevate their presence.

Perspectives

“Perspectives” is a series that highlights our advisors who are leaders in the HIV field and provide guidance to the Coalition, ensuring that our priorities are informed by the latest scientific research and best practices.

This month, we are pleased to spotlight Katie Rutherford, Executive Director of the Frannie Peabody Center and member of the HIV Leadership Advisory Council.

Why have you personally dedicated yourself to working on HIV?

I see the history of HIV activism as a movement fueled by relentless courage and compassion in the face of injustice. It’s an issue that intersects with so many facets of society – how we treat each other and build systems to support communities. I appreciate being a part of an organization where each individual is dedicated to its mission alongside the people we serve, and that continues to inspire me every day.

How do you hope to see U.S. Business Action to End HIV and coalition members contributing toward ending the epidemic in the U.S.?

I hope U.S. Business Action to End HIV and its coalition members continue to recognize their collective power through advocacy, influence, and direct care in a way that makes HIV less stigmatized, care and prevention more accessible, and serves to shift the model of healthcare in the U.S. to a human right.

HEADLINES

HIV in the News

Elton John, Sen. Frist: We’ve Come Too Far To Let AIDS Win

Elton John and former Senator Bill Frist argue that despite historic progress in fighting HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR — which has saved over 26 million lives — billions in already-approved U.S. funding remains frozen in Washington rather than reaching the communities that need it most. They call on the administration to urgently release those funds, scale new prevention tools like long-acting PrEP, and support a country-led transition that could finally end the AIDS epidemic. (USA Today)

CDC Is Hiring For Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

CDC is currently hiring a Director to lead its National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. The position serves as a principal advisor to CDC leadership on policy and resource allocation, requiring extensive collaboration across federal, state, academic, and international partners while overseeing a large multidisciplinary workforce and representing the Center before Congress and other key stakeholders. (USA Jobs)

Inside Trump’s Reversal on HIV

After championing an ambitious plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 during his first term, President Trump's second administration has systematically dismantled much of that progress through sweeping funding cuts, DEI restrictions, and workforce reductions that have left HIV prevention programs gutted and the 2030 goal further out of reach than ever. Former officials, scientists, and advocates warn that while promising new prevention tools like long-acting PrEP exist, no medication alone can end the epidemic without the government infrastructure, community outreach, and funding that are currently being dismantled. (Politico)

Mount Sinai teams up with telehealth DTC disruptor Wisp on HIV prevention

Mount Sinai and digital health company Wisp have partnered to offer a fully telehealth-based PrEP program covered by most private insurance. This helps to address a major gap in HIV prevention, given that only an estimated 36% of eligible patients had been prescribed PrEP as of 2022. The program eliminates the last remaining in-person barrier by mailing patients at-home HIV tests, making quarterly monitoring entirely remote for people who face stigma, access issues, or other obstacles to traditional clinical care. (Healthcare Brew)

Nominations Open: Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) New Members

HHS is seeking nominations for 12 open seats on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). The federal advisory body counsels the HHS Secretary on HIV/AIDS programs, policies, and research. The council welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds, including public health, medicine, faith, business, and community advocacy, as well as people living with HIV, and nominations can be submitted through the Federal Register. (HIV.gov)

NIH ARISE-HIV LAUNCH Challenge

The NIH Office of AIDS Research is accepting submissions for the ARISE-HIV LAUNCH Challenge, a $1 million prize competition seeking innovative ideas to expand access to long-acting HIV prevention and treatment products. Phase 1 submissions, open to individuals, community organizations, businesses, and researchers of all backgrounds, are due August 6, with awards of up to $10,000 each. Phase 1 winners will be invited to develop full implementation plans in Phase 2 for a chance at up to $50,000. (Herox)

EVENTS

Coming Up

June 27

National HIV Testing Day

September 3

Quarterly Coalition Member Meeting

September 17-20

USCHA (Anaheim, CA)

November 18 & 19

Annual Coalition Convening (Washington, D.C.)

Thank you for your commitment and leadership. Let's keep up the momentum!