Thursday, December 12, 2024
, MPAS, MPH, PA-C, a faculty member in the at The , was honored with the prestigious Prevention Pillar Award at this year鈥檚 World AIDS Day event, hosted by . Presented by the , the award recognizes outstanding contributions to HIV prevention, one of the key pillars of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.
Brosnan鈥檚 peers and members of the community voted to select her for this honor, highlighting her impact on public health and her dedication to educating future health care providers about HIV prevention.
鈥淚t is such an honor and means to me that I鈥檓 fulfilling a purpose I feel called to,鈥� Brosnan said. 鈥淭o take my clinical experience and the patient interactions that have shaped me as a provider, and to share that with future providers, is incredibly powerful. This recognition reinforces that the work we do matters and is making a difference in our community.鈥�
The Tarrant County HIV Administrative Agency annually recognizes exceptional individuals across the four strategic pillars of the federal EHE initiative: Diagnose, Treat, Prevent and Respond. Brosnan received the Prevention Pillar Award for her contributions to expanding community awareness and education about PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a medication that significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV.
She recently hosted an HIV Symposium 鈥� 鈥淏ringing together future health care practitioners and champions in HIV care to tackle challenges and work toward ending the HIV epidemic鈥� 鈥� on the topic of a 鈥渟tatus neutral approach鈥� to ending the HIV epidemic. This involves both rapid start, which means providing treatment for those newly diagnosed with HIV as soon as possible, and PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis to help prevent the acquisition of HIV.
The event featured a panel of local experts, student presentations and more.
A commitment rooted in public health
Brosnan鈥檚 journey in HIV prevention began during her tenure at the Tarrant County Public Health Department, where she worked in a clinic serving those living with HIV, 鈥渨orking in underserved communities as a clinician, I realized that what I was doing wasn鈥檛 enough to address patients鈥� overall health outcomes,鈥� Brosnan said. 鈥淭hat realization led me to public health and, ultimately, to focusing on HIV prevention. The community鈥檚 resilience and fight against stigma are truly inspiring, and I feel privileged to contribute to this cause.鈥�
Her work in academia has amplified her impact. As evaluation and curriculum faculty for the South-Central AIDS Education and Training Center, or AETC, Brosnan has educated health care providers and frontline workers about PrEP, emphasizing its importance as a prevention tool.
鈥淗IV education remains a critical need,鈥� Brosnan explained. 鈥淢any practicing providers
still carry stigma or fear surrounding HIV. Teaching students to approach it like
any other chronic condition is essential to breaking down those barriers.鈥�
A legacy of leadership
Brosnan鈥檚 leadership and dedication exemplify HSC鈥檚 mission to create solutions for a healthier community. Lauren Dobbs, MMS, PA-C, program director and department chair of 魅影直播HSC鈥檚 Physician Assistant Studies program, praised Brosnan鈥檚 achievement.
鈥淧A Brosnan is living the values of the HSC. It is awesome to see her recognized by community members for her passion and efforts in prevention and education,鈥� Dobbs said. 鈥淪he is an outstanding model for all healthcare providers.鈥�
The Tarrant County HIV Administrative Agency also commended Brosnan鈥檚 contributions.
鈥淓ach year, we honor the exceptional work of community members dedicated to ending
the HIV epidemic across the EHE pillars,鈥� said Lonnetta Willson, HIV Initiatives Manager.
鈥淎manda鈥檚 involvement with AETC highlights her passion for educating community partners
on PrEP, ensuring widespread access to this vital prevention tool. Congratulations
to Amanda for being a beacon of hope in public health advancement.鈥�
The fight to end HIV
The Prevention Pillar Award reflects Brosnan鈥檚 alignment with the goals of the EHE initiative, which aims to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 90% by 2030. Despite modest progress, achieving these goals requires significant scaling up of prevention strategies such as PrEP coverage, which stood at only 36% in 2022.
CAN Community Health, the organization that hosted the World AIDS Day ceremony, provides comprehensive services to address HIV prevention and treatment, including free HIV testing, PrEP and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) services, and education and counseling. Their partnership with the Tarrant County HIV Administrative Agency underscores the importance of community collaboration in achieving EHE milestones.
For Brosnan, the journey continues. 鈥淭he work is not over,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his award affirms that I鈥檓 on the right track. Together, we can make a true impact on ending the HIV epidemic.鈥�
From - Community by Eric Griffey