News Briefing: Nov. 23-28, 2018

Penn Medicine’s trans-health symposium

The University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine’s Center for Human Appearance will host a symposium Dec. 1 that will address and educate current and aspiring healthcare professionals on the challenges of transgender healthcare.

The “Transgender Health: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach” seminar will feature aspects of transgender healthcare, including surgical procedures, hormone therapy, insurance policies, dermatology and family dynamics. This multi-disciplinary symposium is open to medical students, healthcare professionals and interested individuals. It will be held at the Smilow Center for Translational Research at 3400 Civic Center Blvd.

Registration for UPenn residents and medical and nursing students is free. Otherwise, registration is $100 and general-admission registration costs $200.

To register for the “Transgender Health: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach,” visit https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/125230.

Action Wellness’ social-media campaign for World AIDS Day

Action Wellness has put out a call to action for participants to take part in its “Action Heroes Wear Red” social-media campaign to raise awareness of the continuing stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV.

“Our main goal of [the campaign] is to show that HIV is still prevalent and it is still definitely a risk,” said Sarah DeLaurentis, Action Wellness’ director of development and communications.   

The campaign — in partnership with Amerihealth Caritas —  is Action Wellness’ recognition of World AIDS Day Dec. 1. Family, friends, coworker and pets are encouraged to pose in a photo wearing a red article of clothing with a sign (or a photo caption) about why they are wearing red for AIDS Awareness. The photos will be posted on Action Wellness’ website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

The purpose of the campaign is to spark discussions on “where we’ve come from, the status of HIV now, the importance of knowing your status and to honor those that we’ve lost to AIDS,” DeLaurentis said.

“We have a new group of people growing up who think that HIV isn’t as much of a risk as it was before. If you’re on the right medications and you’re taking it as prescribed, that may be true. However, if you don’t go on medication, it’s a death sentence.”

To take part in “Action Heroes Wear Red,” email photos to [email protected] by Nov. 29. Participants must sign a photo release to be included in the campaign.

For more information and to sign the photo release, visit https://www.actionwellness.org/join-us/special-events/world-aids-day.

Fine-arts students to host World AIDS Day art exhibit

In honor of World AIDS Day, the University of Pennsylvania will host an art exhibit Nov. 29 to highlight Philadelphians living with HIV/AIDS.

The exhibit will showcase work by UPenn’s Fine Arts students in an effort to explore issues of health and equality in the community. The art show will be held in the Charles Adams Fine Arts Hall, 200 S. 36th St. 1-3 p.m. It will feature two interactive art displays to encourage participants to think about the issues and challenges of people living with HIV/AIDS. 

— Compiled by Adriana Fraser and Miranda Lankas

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