ABQ Times

A recent summit at the White House focused on advancing the United States' HIV response, particularly within Hispanic and Latino communities. The ¡Adelante! Summit, held on September 24 in Washington D.C., brought together over 100 leaders both in-person and virtually to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy. This strategy emphasizes prevention, health equity, and collaborative action to combat the epidemic.

Among those present was Kelsea Aragon, PharmD, PhC, an assistant professor at The University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. Reflecting on her participation, Aragon expressed hope for progress: “For me, it was inspiring to sit in a room full of predominantly Hispanic and Latino people, all working towards a common goal: advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s National HIV Prevention Strategy."

Aragon's work is centered around serving underserved communities. She provides care at UNM Truman Health Services where she focuses on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention and offers gender-affirming care. Her efforts also include managing conditions like diabetes and hypertension that disproportionately affect Hispanic/Latino populations.

At the summit, Aragon highlighted how Truman Health Services aligns with national strategies to reduce HIV rates. She advocated for pharmacists’ roles in increasing access to preventative services: “Pharmacists can play a vital role in increasing access to HIV preventative services,” she noted.

The theme "Adelante Juntos" or "moving forward together" resonated deeply with participants. Aragon emphasized collaboration across disciplines as crucial for expanding access to prevention and care services.

Summit data revealed that while overall HIV rates are declining nationally, new diagnoses among Hispanic/Latino men are rising. Addressing this trend requires strategic outreach and culturally appropriate communication.

A policy change in New Mexico now allows pharmacists to prescribe PrEP in community settings—a development Aragon views as pivotal: “Community pharmacists are often more accessible than doctors... If we can empower pharmacists to offer these services, we can dramatically improve HIV prevention efforts.”

Looking toward the goal of ending the epidemic by 2030, Aragon remains hopeful yet realistic about challenges ahead. She stresses collective action as essential: “We’re not working in silos... Together, we can reach the goal of no new HIV infections by 2030.”

Her call extends beyond healthcare providers or specific communities: “This isn’t just about health care providers or the Hispanic/Latino community—it’s about all of us working together.”