November 13, 2014 – Dr. Bernard Branson presented to the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV as part of the CHIPTS HIV Research and Community Colloquia Series. Dr. Branson has been a persuasive behind-the-scenes architect of public HIV prevention and testing policies in the U.S., Caribbean, and Central America for more than 30 years. He is perhaps best known as the lead author of CDC’s 2006 Recommendations for HIV screening in health care settings and, most recently, the June 2014 HIV testing recommendations that updated the U.S. laboratory testing algorithm for the first time in 25 years. He has extensive experience as a clinician, advocate, community organizer, infectious disease specialist, and clinical virologist. Since leaving his most recent position as Associate Director for Laboratory Diagnostics in CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention in October, Bernie has devoted efforts to advancing the adoption of biomedical interventions (such as treatment for HIV viral suppression and pre-exposure prophylaxis) that hold promise for bringing an end to the scourge of HIV. His ambitious visions for prevention and treatment: 0 new transmissions of HIV, and 0 new cases of progression to AIDS among persons living with HIV.
CHIPTS hosts a monthly HIV Research and Community Colloquia Series in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV to highlight current issues and conversations surrounding HIV. Click here for past lectures and check out the events page for more information on future Colloquia presentations!