CAHR 2023 Paving the Path: Optimizing HIV Care in Migrant and Newcomer Communities

This session was sponsored by Gilead.

The HIV epidemic in Canada is changing, with recent HIV surveillance reports indicating that the number of new diagnoses among migrant people living with HIV (MLWH) is steadily increasing. MLWH can face numerous barriers to optimized HIV care, leading to delayed screening and antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation, higher rates of care drop-out, treatment adherence concerns, and variable rates of viral suppression. The panelists will discuss principles, strategies, and partnerships for improving linkage and continuity of care for MLWH, including a review of clinical experience and research focusing on this group, as well as case studies illustrating initiatives that support care for these communities.

Learning objectives:
• Evaluate key learnings from current clinical research to improve HIV care for MLWH, through linkage to care and optimizing long-term health-related outcomes
• Assess community-based partnerships to identify future opportunities for delivery of high-quality care in migrant and newcomer communities in Canada
• Apply best practices from multidisciplinary HIV care to current and existing community collaborations

Speakers:
Gordon Arbess, MD, CCFP Unity Health Toronto, St Michael's Hospital Director, HIV Clinics Staff Physician, Department of Family & Community Medicine Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto HIV Enhanced Skills Residency Program Coordinator

Ken Monteith Executive Director, Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-SIDA)

Ower Alexander Oberto Community Support Worker, Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA) Chair/President, Latinos Positivos Director of LGBTQ Affairs, Canadian Hispanic Congress Board Member, HALCO Advisory Committee Board Member, OAN