ARCHIVES
- January 2024
- March 2023
- February 2023
- November 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- September 2020
- May 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- April 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- December 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- March 2016
- March 2013
Mayor David Briley Announces Task Force to End HIV, AIDS Epidemic
April 25th, 2018 
Client News
With more than 4,000 Nashvillians living with HIV, Mayor David Briley today announced the appointment of the city’s first Ending the Epidemic Task Force and named Meharry Medical College President Dr. James Hildreth as chairman.
The task force is created in conjunction with the Office of the Mayor, the Metro Public Health Department and community stakeholders in response to the Ending the Epidemic summit held this past December and is dedicated to improving access to care and services for those living with HIV and expanding prevention strategies to eliminate future infections. The task force held its first meeting today.
“HIV/AIDS is an often hidden but devastating epidemic that is impacting far too many Nashvillians, but the end is truly in sight,” said Mayor Briley. “I look forward to working with the task force on its efforts to reduce stigma and ultimately eliminate what is a preventable disease. I’m grateful to all of these leaders for their commitment to serve.”
Ending the Epidemic is a national movement and several cities and states have developed plans to end the HIV epidemic in their communities. A true end to HIV will not come until there is a cure, but new science and tools are now available to bend the trajectory of this disease to pre-epidemic levels. Nashville is participating in a cohort of other southern jurisdictions with assistance from receiving Treatment Action Group and the Southern AIDS Coalition.
“At Metro Public Health Department, we see ourselves as part of a care team with one patient – the city of Nashville. Through the Ending the Epidemic process, we are making a commitment to identifying the barriers to treatment and care and developing those interventions that will lead us on a path to End the HIV epidemic in our community once and for all,” said Dr. Paul.
The task force will serve as a high-level advisory body and oversee an inclusive, community-led planning process, which is expected to produce a plan before World AIDS Day on December 1. Recommendations are expected to include initiatives and action steps that will raise awareness, reduce stigma, improve care and support for people living with HIV, and focus on prevention efforts that have the potential to eliminate future infections.
“This is a critically important step for the public health community, and I am ready to get to work on efforts that will provide hope by changing the trajectory of this preventable disease that is hurting so many people,” Dr. Hildreth, who has worked tirelessly in the fight against HIV and AIDS for decades.
The following multi-sector stakeholders are appointed by Mayor Briley to the Ending the Epidemic Task Force:
- Dr. James Hildreth, President, Meharry Medical College (Task Force Chair)
- Dr. Bill Paul, Director, Metro Public Health Department
- Dr. Carolyn Wester, Medical Director for HIV/AIDS/STD, Tennessee Department of Health
- Dr. Stephen Raffanti, CMO, Comprehensive Care Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Dr. Stephanie Bailey, Senior Associate, Dean of Public Health Practice, Meharry School of Public Health
- Representative John Ray Clemmons, Tennessee General Assembly
- Brian Haile, CEO, Neighborhood Health
- Kevin Hartman, Owner, Nashville Pharmacy Services
- Councilwoman Sharon Hurt, Acting Executive Director, Street Works
- Joseph Interrante, CEO, Nashville CARES
- Michele Johnson, Executive Director, Tennessee Justice Center
- Julian Leggs, Community Advocate
- Rev. Edwin Sanders, Senior Servant, Metropolitan Interdenominational Church
- Tom Ward, Executive Director, Oasis Center
