Racism as a driver of HIV: From lived experience to structural change

Rebecca L Root is a multimedia journalist based in Bangkok and reporting globally. She covers humanitarian aid, human rights, global health, development and climate, among other things. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Telegraph, BBC, Devex and other international publications.

E. Roberto Orellana was born and raised in Guatemala’s highlands, but had to leave his country due to political and structural violence that continues. He is now a Professor at the University of Washington (UW) and an Indigenous health scientist trained in psychology, social welfare and public health. His research focuses on HIV-related stigma reduction, Indigenous health equity and community-driven interventions across the Americas. He has partnered with Indigenous communities in Peru, Guatemala and the US and on the Mexico-Guatemala border to develop interventions addressing racism, stigma, discrimination and other structural drivers of HIV and health. He has directed large biobehavioural surveillance efforts, leads the Health Access Scientific Working Group at UW’s Center for AIDS Research, and is principal investigator of KABAWIL, a stigma reduction intervention for Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala. He mentors Indigenous and minoritized scholars, and his work emphasizes culturally grounded research, Indigenous leadership and development of effective, community-centred HIV prevention strategies.

Thiago is a Project Advisor at Gestos, as the focal point for HIV/AIDS and gender and sexuality diversity. As a PLHIV, black, non-binary, and bi person, they have participated throughout their journey in movements for the rights of PLHIV, LGBTQIAPN+, PUD, and other discriminated populations.

 

Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, a medical doctor for 18 years, a global health expert, and a revolutionary decoloniality scholar working at the intersection of the right to health, specifically sexual and reproductive health and rights, public health policy and governance, bodily autonomy and health justice. She is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town, and Senior Scholar at Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Policy and Politics.  Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng is a former Commissioner at the Commission for Gender Equality.

 

Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng's work has  advanced intersectional analysis,  has made jurisprudential and normative contributions to law and policy and public discourse on reproductive autonomy, safe abortion, sexual health, gender justice and the structural determinants of health through clinical and health systems settings. She has also intervened as amicus curiae in many jurisdictions across the world. She has briefed the U.S. She spoke before the Senate on the Global Gag Rule, delivered the first civil society statement on safe and legal abortion at the United Nations Human Rights Council, and provided technical expert briefings to judicial and legislative committee members around the world, including the European Parliament, Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and civil society organizations (CSOs). Her scholarly work is widely published globally.  

 

She is the Executive Editorial Committee Member “Health and Human Rights” Journal, FXB Centre, Harvard University,  PATC³H-IN External Scientific Review Board (ESRB) Member, Member of the Innovation Equity Forum (IEF) Mapping global opportunities in women’s health Research & Development by The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Advisory council member of Strengthening Health Systems Capacity in Africa for Pandemic equity and responsiveness (SHARPER) project, advisor on the Nurture4Youth Advisory Group, a member of the UHC Movement Political Panel providing guidance to the UHC2030 Steering Committee to strengthen political support for universal health coverage (UHC) and advisor to the Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI),a catalyst for collaboration and global health diplomacy, facilitating and supporting governments implementation. 

 

She is a bestselling author and is a globally renowned medical doctor and multi-awarded global health expert such as being named Glamour Woman of the Year, BBC Top 100 Woman, and Global Excellence Award and 2023 Forbes Africa and recognized as one of 30 extraordinary women who shape South Africa 30yrs into democracy.   She is executive producer of various projects and is anticipating the release of a feature film titled Saint X and a documentary titled PhD: Behind the Yellow lane.

As a primary care and HIV physician, researcher, and public health leader, Oni Blackstock, MD, MHS, brings deep expertise to equity work in healthcare and public health systems. She is the founder and Executive Director of Health Justice, a New York-based social impact consulting and research firm that partners with health organizations to embed racial and health equity into their policies and practices, while collaborating directly with communities most impacted by health inequities to develop programs and conduct research grounded in their expertise and leadership.

As Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, leading the Bureau of HIV, Dr. Blackstock spearheaded initiatives to expand access to HIV prevention and treatment. Under her leadership, NYC reached a record low number of new HIV diagnoses. She also oversaw the creation of the Health Department's first Bureau-based Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiatives Program.

Previously, she served as an assistant professor at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she developed, implemented, and tested NIH- and CDC-funded community and technology-based interventions to improve engagement in HIV prevention and treatment among communities disproportionately affected by HIV.

She is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Yale School of Medicine Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program.

Rebecca L Root is a multimedia journalist based in Bangkok and reporting globally. She covers humanitarian aid, human rights, global health, development and climate, among other things. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Telegraph, BBC, Devex and other international publications.

E. Roberto Orellana was born and raised in Guatemala’s highlands, but had to leave his country due to political and structural violence that continues. He is now a Professor at the University of Washington (UW) and an Indigenous health scientist trained in psychology, social welfare and public health. His research focuses on HIV-related stigma reduction, Indigenous health equity and community-driven interventions across the Americas. He has partnered with Indigenous communities in Peru, Guatemala and the US and on the Mexico-Guatemala border to develop interventions addressing racism, stigma, discrimination and other structural drivers of HIV and health. He has directed large biobehavioural surveillance efforts, leads the Health Access Scientific Working Group at UW’s Center for AIDS Research, and is principal investigator of KABAWIL, a stigma reduction intervention for Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala. He mentors Indigenous and minoritized scholars, and his work emphasizes culturally grounded research, Indigenous leadership and development of effective, community-centred HIV prevention strategies.

Thiago is a Project Advisor at Gestos, as the focal point for HIV/AIDS and gender and sexuality diversity. As a PLHIV, black, non-binary, and bi person, they have participated throughout their journey in movements for the rights of PLHIV, LGBTQIAPN+, PUD, and other discriminated populations.

 

Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, a medical doctor for 18 years, a global health expert, and a revolutionary decoloniality scholar working at the intersection of the right to health, specifically sexual and reproductive health and rights, public health policy and governance, bodily autonomy and health justice. She is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town, and Senior Scholar at Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Policy and Politics.  Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng is a former Commissioner at the Commission for Gender Equality.

 

Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng's work has  advanced intersectional analysis,  has made jurisprudential and normative contributions to law and policy and public discourse on reproductive autonomy, safe abortion, sexual health, gender justice and the structural determinants of health through clinical and health systems settings. She has also intervened as amicus curiae in many jurisdictions across the world. She has briefed the U.S. She spoke before the Senate on the Global Gag Rule, delivered the first civil society statement on safe and legal abortion at the United Nations Human Rights Council, and provided technical expert briefings to judicial and legislative committee members around the world, including the European Parliament, Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and civil society organizations (CSOs). Her scholarly work is widely published globally.  

 

She is the Executive Editorial Committee Member “Health and Human Rights” Journal, FXB Centre, Harvard University,  PATC³H-IN External Scientific Review Board (ESRB) Member, Member of the Innovation Equity Forum (IEF) Mapping global opportunities in women’s health Research & Development by The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Advisory council member of Strengthening Health Systems Capacity in Africa for Pandemic equity and responsiveness (SHARPER) project, advisor on the Nurture4Youth Advisory Group, a member of the UHC Movement Political Panel providing guidance to the UHC2030 Steering Committee to strengthen political support for universal health coverage (UHC) and advisor to the Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI),a catalyst for collaboration and global health diplomacy, facilitating and supporting governments implementation. 

 

She is a bestselling author and is a globally renowned medical doctor and multi-awarded global health expert such as being named Glamour Woman of the Year, BBC Top 100 Woman, and Global Excellence Award and 2023 Forbes Africa and recognized as one of 30 extraordinary women who shape South Africa 30yrs into democracy.   She is executive producer of various projects and is anticipating the release of a feature film titled Saint X and a documentary titled PhD: Behind the Yellow lane.

As a primary care and HIV physician, researcher, and public health leader, Oni Blackstock, MD, MHS, brings deep expertise to equity work in healthcare and public health systems. She is the founder and Executive Director of Health Justice, a New York-based social impact consulting and research firm that partners with health organizations to embed racial and health equity into their policies and practices, while collaborating directly with communities most impacted by health inequities to develop programs and conduct research grounded in their expertise and leadership.

As Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, leading the Bureau of HIV, Dr. Blackstock spearheaded initiatives to expand access to HIV prevention and treatment. Under her leadership, NYC reached a record low number of new HIV diagnoses. She also oversaw the creation of the Health Department's first Bureau-based Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiatives Program.

Previously, she served as an assistant professor at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she developed, implemented, and tested NIH- and CDC-funded community and technology-based interventions to improve engagement in HIV prevention and treatment among communities disproportionately affected by HIV.

She is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Yale School of Medicine Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program.

Rebecca L Root is a multimedia journalist based in Bangkok and reporting globally. She covers humanitarian aid, human rights, global health, development and climate, among other things. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Telegraph, BBC, Devex and other international publications.