December 1 marks World AIDS Day, an important reminder that we must remain persistent in our commitment to prevent new HIV infections and provide essential services to all people living with HIV globally. 

As we observe World AIDS Day, it is important to reflect on the progress we have made and the challenges that lie ahead. The advancements in HIV treatment and care have transformed what was once considered a fatal illness into a manageable chronic condition. However, there is still a critical need for skilled healthcare providers who are equipped to address the complex needs of people living with HIV.

Our faculty and alumni include dedicated nurse scientists committed to advancing research and education to support the care of those living with HIV. One of the cornerstones of our efforts is our HIV specialty certificate program, which recently celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary. This program is aimed at nurse practitioners who wish to specialize in HIV primary care and is designed to equip nurse practitioners with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to provide comprehensive, patient-centered HIV care.

The HIV specialty certificate program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes didactic instruction in HIV/AIDS pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy, and clinical management, as well as a 168-hour clinical practicum under the mentorship of experienced HIV primary care clinicians like program director Kara McGee, DMS, MSPH, PA-C, AAHIVS.

“The program has evolved to assure that graduates can meet the medical needs of people with HIV in the US,” McGee explains. “For example, the population of people with HIV in the US is aging and people with HIV are living normal life expectancies. Therefore, the program has evolved to include more content on caring for older adults with HIV.”

Our graduates are uniquely positioned to address the growing need for HIV specialists. They work in diverse settings, including federally qualified health centers, Ryan White-funded clinics, infectious disease specialty clinics, and academic medical centers. The program not only enhances their clinical skills but also prepares them to advocate for improvements in healthcare systems to ensure compassionate and stigma-free care for all people living with HIV.

Several of our faculty members have also been leading research to address various facets of the epidemic. 

Brandon Knettel, PhD, has consistently worked to improve health outcomes for patients with HIV through his scholarship, most recently publishing a study looking at the intersection of opioid and HIV treatment and how providers can better practice whole-patient care by addressing both. The study underscored the importance of integrating opioid use disorder and mental health treatment into HIV care.

Marta Mulawa, PhD, MHS, focuses her research on improving population health by examining and addressing social and behavioral determinants of HIV treatment and prevention outcomes in global settings.

Schenita Randolph, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, and Ragan Johnson, DNP, FNP-BC, CNE are co-directors of the HEEAT Lab, which focuses on reducing sexual health disparities and HIV through community engagement and trust-building strategies. Earlier this year they published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine detailing the findings of their UPDOs Protective Styles project to recruit and train salon stylists as sources of information on HIV, pre-exposure phrophylaxis (PrEP), and infection control. The intervention led to an increase in knowledge and positive views of PrEP among women who were previously unaware of it. Following this pilot research the team recently received an NIH R01 grant to assess the effectiveness of this intervention in a larger, more geographically diverse sample. 

Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C, AAHIVS, DFAAPA, is a global leader in HIV research and care with transgender persons, certified as an HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine and Gender Specialist by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. She is an associate editor for the journal LGBT Health and serves on the Department of Health and Human Services Adolescent and Adult HIV Treatment Guidelines panel. 

Michael V. Relf, PhD, RN, AACRN, ANEF, CNE, FAAN, interim dean and Mary T. Champagne Distinguished Professor of Nursing has a deep history of scholarship in HIV/AIDS treatment. His research focuses on the psychosocial aspects of HIV using mixed-methods particularly focusing on intimate partner violence; HIV-related stigma, intersectional stigma, and experiences with everyday discrimination among persons living with HIV; and interventions to promote engagement in HIV-oriented primary medical care and disclosure. Additionally, through his research, he has documented the role of the professional and advanced practice nurse in the prevention, care and treatment of persons at risk for or living with HIV.

Our alumni have also continued to advance HIV care through their professional work after leaving Duke, whether it be founding an HIV clinic in Chicago or working to provide some of Hawaii’s only holistic HIV treatments. 

We are proud of the work our faculty, students, and alumni have done and continue to do to address the HIV epidemic. Our HIV specialty certificate program continues to evolve, incorporating the latest research and best practices to ensure that our graduates are prepared to meet the demands of the ever-changing healthcare landscape.