Reducing HIV-Related Stigma Among First-Year Medical Students: Innovations in Curriculum: Q&A and Discussion

Proposal:

Learning Objectives: This presentation will share the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) curriculum design for reducing HIV stigma among future medical providers, which includes collaboration with community partners, students, and faculty. Presenters will review outcomes from the first semester of implementation, share educational materials, and outline strategies to keep the curricula relevant and attuned to emergent issues in healthcare.

Background:

HIV-related stigma among medical providers can be a significant barrier to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) receiving early diagnosis, linkage to care, and retention to treatment for viral suppression. Provider HIV stigma in healthcare settings can lead to failure to offer comprehensive services, violations of confidentiality, demoralizing patient experiences, and internalized patient stigma.
AUC has designed and launched the IMPACTS curriculum. This transformative medical education curriculum supports student self-awareness through a larger lens by developing competencies in health equity, cultural proficiency, care and trust, communication, ethical decision-making, systems-based practice, and professionalism. IMPACTS curriculum is delivered with mutually beneficial community partnerships that connect medical students to health advocacy groups and community centers on the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten.
Presentation
This presentation will focus on a module of the IMPACTS curriculum that challenges existing assumptions that contribute to HIV stigma among medical providers. Students had in-person conversations with advocates who are living with HIV/AIDS, with a focus on psychosocial challenges faced in treatment, lived experiences when engaging with medical providers, and medical provider facilitators to engage patients in long-term care. Students were guided through the application of lessons learned, with the development of health education messages focused on reducing community stigma and promoting HIV testing behaviors. The outcome was assessed with an anonymous measure of pre- and post-medical provider HIV stigma.