This plenary session will address the intersection of the social determinants of health, the global COVID-19 pandemic, national HIV, HCV, STI, and LGBTQ healthcare planning efforts, and racial and social justice issues -- and the disparate impact on health equity and long-term health outcomes among medically underserved populations. Speakers from health departments, health centers, and AIDS service organizations (ASO) leaders will discuss their efforts to advance health equity through the development and implementation of culturally-responsive HIV, HCV, STI, LGBTQ, and now COVID-19 services.  A panel discussion will sync these issues and intersections, as well as their collective impact on health outcomes at the individual and population levels, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ persons. 


Learning Objectives:

  1. Discuss how health departments, health centers, and ASOs are leveraging innovative approaches to health care delivery to advance health equity across HIV, HCV, STI, and LGBTQ health; 


  1. Describe how these efforts intersect with the social determinants of health and the current healthcare landscape, most notably the global COVID-19 pandemic and the national response to issues of racial and social justice; and

  2. Detail how these organizations have synced efforts across the local, state, and Federal levels to improve health outcomes at the individual and population levels, particularly among underserved racial/ethnic and LGBTQ populations.