July 31, 2025

The Time Is Now: Let’s End HIV in Our Communities” at National Medical Association Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly

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Press Recap

“The Time Is Now: Let’s End HIV in Our Communities” at National Medical Association Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly

“When you can put the oldest and largest group of Black physicians in the room, with the most extensive reach of Black journalists, with the experts in pharma and infectious disease, and a cultural icon in the form of Raheem DeVaughn; that is hopeful. We own this moment…we don’t need to wait to get permission to serve our people and save our people.”

Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD – 126th President, National Medical Association and President, Howard University Hospital.

This week, set against the backdrop of the 2025 National Medical Association Conference, top leaders in health, biopharma, advocacy and entertainment, alongside key voices in the media, joined together for a relevant and unusually relatable press briefing and community conversation, convened by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

11am Full Panel Link*: 11am Press Briefing with NMA President

1pm Full Panel Link*: 1pm Press Briefing with Community

The program featured keynote interviews and a press briefing with a panel that included:

Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD – Newly installed 126^th President, National Medical Association and President, Howard University Hospital; Raheem DeVaughn – Grammy-winning artist, philanthropist, radio host of #1 rated Original Quiet Storm on WHUR, actor, community activist, and HIV Prevention Influencer; Keith Green, PhD – Executive Director, Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus. Over 10+ years of experience as an HIV prevention and treatment advocate; Toyin Nwafor, MD – Executive Director, US HIV Medical Affairs, Gilead Sciences. Infectious Disease Physician; and Deborah Wafer, NP, PA – Executive Director, US Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences.

Moderated by: Jotaka Eaddy – 2025 NMA Women’s Luncheon Keynote Speaker. 2025 Time Magazine Honoree; 2025 NAACP Image Award Honoree; Essence Magazine “Power 40” Honoree; Founder CEO, Full Circle Strategies, LLC.

Through expertise and personal stories, the speakers focused on the urgent need to educate the community in new ways about HIV and highlighted the critical need of having regular and judgment-free conversations about HIV testing, treatment and prevention options with family, friends, partners, and personal healthcare providers. The conversation also including the importance of raising awareness of prevention options, including oral PrEP and innovative new long-acting injectable PrEP options.

The discussion elevated the voices of each leader’s intimate lived experiences, with a direct call for action for healthcare professionals and trusted messengers to normalize conversations about HIV, and continue to generate the intentional collaboration of medical providers, community partners, industry experts, trusted messengers, and media to help end the HIV epidemic for everybody, everywhere.

Notable attendees included community organizations: (NCNW) National Council of Negro Women; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; #WinWithBlackWomen; National Black Justice Coalition; Members of the Divine Nine community; National Pharmaceutical Association; and renowned civil rights activist Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

The National Medical Association (NMA) is the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States. The NMA is committed to improving the quality of health among minorities and disadvantaged people through its membership, professional development, community health education, advocacy, research and partnerships with federal and private agencies.

Notable Quotes from the Event:

“I’ve been on PrEP for the last few years because my doctor, Dr. Hodges in Washington D.C, spoke to me and educated me about both PrEP and the current rates of new HIV diagnosis in the country. So, this is why I let people know why finding a primary care doctor you can really talk to and learn from is so important for your health and your life.”

Raheem DeVaughn – Grammy-winning artist, radio host of #1 rated Original Quiet Storm on WHUR, actor, community activist, and HIV Prevention Influencer.

“It was at a Raheem DeVaughn concert that I first heard the startling statistics that Black women represent a disproportionate number of new HIV diagnosis in the United States. And I thought to myself, as someone who had gathered nearly 100,000 Black women on one Zoom call, how is it that I did not know this statistic? So, I thank Gilead Sciences and Mr. DeVaughn for all the work they are doing to ensure that we are informed.”

Jotaka Eaddy – 2025 NMA Women’s Luncheon Keynote Speaker. 2025 Time Magazine Honoree; 2025 NAACP Image Award Honoree; Essence Magazine “Power 40” Honoree; Founder CEO, Full Circle Strategies, LLC.

“I practiced in Chicago for over 20 years and in that setting both in the inpatient service and the outpatient setting; at Cook County Health, a large public hospital; I worked at a university hospital; I worked at a VA hospital, and in academic research. What was clear over those past 20 to 25 years is that regardless of the patient population, regardless of the payer mix, there remained existing disparities in access to good quality care and the outcomes that disproportionately impact our communities, the black community.”

Toyin Nwafor, MD – Executive Director, US HIV Medical Affairs, Gilead Sciences. Infectious Disease Physician.

“We know that if you treat someone who has HIV, their virus goes down. There’s not enough virus to transmit to another person. So we call that undetectable is untransmittable…that’s one prevention modality. Also, for people who have HIV, if they’re taking medication…we know people can live a long life if they are treated early. And now we have new prevention tools where we know that if people are taking medication for prevention, it can prevent transmission of the virus if they have sex with someone who might have HIV. So, we are excited to talk about this all, because I think in the Black community, we don’t talk enough about this preventable disease.”

Deborah Wafer, NP, PA – Executive Director, US Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences.

“I was 17 years old in 1994 coming into my own, exploring, experimenting as 17-year-olds do. But, oftentimes we put we put blame and shame on folks…So, as someone living with HIV and having been diagnosed so young, it has been my passion to ensure that other young people doing what young people do have the tools and resources that they need to live their healthiest, best lives.”

Keith Green, PhD – Executive Director, Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus. Over 10+ years of experience as an HIV prevention and treatment advocate.

“I am realizing that I haven’t had a conversation with my kids about PrEP. But I’ll leave here and have the conversation with them. So, that’s the power of this conversation. I mean, I am the test case for that in this moment.”

Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD – 126th President, National Medical Association and President, Howard University Hospital.

“Sexual health is health. My hope for the future is that we get to a space where that is part of a normal conversation within the health care setting. We all have a status. Everyone’s HIV possible and our status is not static, right? We’re living breathing human beings. So really empowering people to understand that sexual health is part of your overall health.”

Toyin Nwafor, MD – Executive Director, US HIV Medical Affairs, Gilead Sciences. Infectious Disease Physician.

“When I first heard the statistics on Black women being disproportionately affected, I also thought about Black men. So, for anyone who may be in between doctors right now, or just hellbent on not going to the doctor, I want everyone to know, there are also home HIV testing kits. Using them can even become a sensual moment… like you swab me, I swab you, we swab each other! But real talk, we should all know what’s going on with our bodies and normalize having conversations about our sexual health.”

Raheem DeVaughn – Grammy-winning artist, radio host of #1 rated Original Quiet Storm on WHUR, actor, community activist, and HIV Prevention Influencer.

	Caption: Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr., President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), also known as “The Black Press of America, addresses the briefing room.
	Caption: Panelists Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr., Dr. Toyin Nwafor and Raheen DeVaughn during the press briefing.
	Caption: (from left to right) Samantha Stokes Granberry (Gilead), Dr. Toyin Nwafor, Raheem DeVaughn, Deborah Wafer (Gilead), Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., Marcus Wilson (Gilead), Jotaka Eaddy, and Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr.
	Caption: Jotaka Eaddy moderates the panel with Deborah Wafer; Keith Green, PHD; Dr. Toyin Nwafor, MD; and Raheen DeVaughn.