Midwest HIV Response and Action Summit

April 22, 2026 | 8:00am - 4:30pm

Ameren Community Room, Delmar Divine (5501 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112)

Register
Register

Event Overview

The goal of the Summit is to bring together researchers, health departments, and community organizations to develop a shared understanding of the HIV epidemic and response in Missouri. The summit will highlight insights from emerging research and programmatic progress across stakeholder groups, while also identifying opportunities for collaboration to advance action in the region.

By the end of the day, participants will:

  • Develop more of a shared understanding of the epidemic and its response in Missouri, including insights from emerging research and programmatic progress, across different stakeholder groups.

  • Identify opportunities for collaborations to advance a science-based response in the region.

Participating Institutions

Agenda Overview

  • “Show Me” Wall

    Participants respond to: 

    • What result do you most want to see translated into action? 

    • What response is Missouri not yet making? 

  • Facilitators: Elvin Geng, MD, MPH and Juliet Iwelunmor, PhD

    • D-CFAR mission and role in science-based, actionable insights 

    • Expectations for participation and shared airtime 

  • Rapid evidence reviews

    Moderator: Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA

    • The HIV Epidemic in Missouri – is Incidence Going-Up? — Ume Abbas, MD, MS, FIDSA

    • Retention in HIV Care: More than Meets the Eye? — Aditi Ramakrishnan, MD, MSc

    • Missouri’s HIV and STI Landscape: How Your Work Improves Outcomes — Hannah McGrath

  • Small-group prompts

    • What findings stood out most? 

    • Where do these data align—or clash—with experience? 

    • What response is missing or under-resourced? 

  • Facilitated large-group discussion

    Co-facilitator: Tyrell Manning, CHW

    Guiding questions: 

    • What do these foci mean? 

    • How can community organizations and health departments address them? 

  • Participants revisit “Show Me” Wall themes and add reflections. 

  • Moderator: Juliet Iwelunmor, PhD

    Review and Digest Facilitator: Erise Williams, Jr., MPH

    Discussion prompts: 

    • What aspects of this model are feasible locally? 

    • What partnerships are required for implementation or scale? 

    • How could this approach support prevention and retention in care? 

  • Informal networking.

  • Rapid evidence reviews

    Moderator: Elvin Geng, MD, MPH

    • Expanding Take Me Home for STIs — Ginger McKay, PhD, MS

    • Telehealth to Advance HIV Care in Missouri — Dima Dandachi, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FACP 

    • ChampionSTL: Lessons from a Youth Peer Champion Program in HIV Prevention — Dada Dada, MSc, Helen Etya’ale

  • Guiding questions: 

    • Which innovations are most actionable now? 

    • What adaptations are needed for community uptake? 

    • Where should D-CFAR focus dissemination and support? 

  • Concurrent facilitated conversations 

    Room 1: Making Science Usable for Community Programs

    Facilitator: Mike Durkin, MD, MPH

    Contributors: Julia López, Darius Rucker, San Juan Caffey, Jr, Jourdan Lacey & Antoine Brantley

    Room 2: Global and Local Lessons in the HIV Response – Beyond Borders

    Facilitator: Lindsey Filiatreau, PhD, MPH

    Contributors: Anne Sebert Kuhlmann, Temitope Ojo & Nhial Tutlam

  • Facilitator: Enbal Shacham, PhD

    Rapid recognition and invitation to engage.

  • Networking over light refreshments.

This event is sponsored by the Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research.

Email admin@midwestdcfar.org with any questions!