World AIDS Day: Are We Winning the Fight?

Is the HIV fight behind or ahead of us? On this World AIDS Day, we will have a panel with key players in the space. These doctors are working on clinical trials to develop drugs to prevent and treat HIV, they work on policies to help bring the interventions where they are needed, and they are also on the ground caring for the individuals needing the care.

Join us to hear how they feel about where we are with the fight.

About the Speakers

Demetre C. Daskalakis, M.D., M.P.H., is an infectious disease physician and public health leader recognized for his expertise in infectious diseases and emergency response, with leadership experience at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the CDC, and in the White House National Mpox Response.

Monica Gandhi M.D., M.P.H., is a professor of medicine and associate chief in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is also the director of the UCSF Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and the medical director of the HIV Clinic ("Ward 86") at San Francisco General Hospital. She serves as the associate program director of the ID fellowship at UCSF. Her research focuses on HIV treatment and prevention optimization, HIV and women, adherence measurement in HIV and TB, adherence interventions, and on optimizing the use of long-acting antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Dr. Nas Mohamed is a physician and LGBTQ+ rights advocate whose work bridges medicine, activism and global human rights. He is the founder of Osra Medical, a San Francisco clinic specializing in inclusive, culturally competent care, and the president of the Alwan Foundation, a nonprofit amplifying LGBTQ+ voices from the Gulf region. Through partnerships with Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare, Dr. Mohamed advances HIV prevention education and access. His clinic was among the first in San Francisco to offer both Apretude and Yeztugo, the long-acting injectables for PrEP. Internationally recognized as the first openly gay Qatari, Dr. Mohamed launched the “Love Is Not a Crime” campaign during the FIFA World Cup, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in regions where same-sex relationships remain criminalized. He also served on the Board of Directors of San Francisco Pride for two years after being selected as the 2023 Grand Marshal by the public vote.

Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D., joined San Francisco AIDS Foundation as CEO in February 2022. Dr.TerMeer came to SFAF with nearly 18 years of experience in HIV and AIDS policy, advocacy and nonprofit management. Previously, he served as CEO of Cascade AIDS Project, the largest community-based provider of HIV services in Oregon and southwest Washington. Dr. TerMeer has also served as the director of public policy and government relations at AIDS Resource Center Ohio, as director of Ohio AIDS Coalition, and on a variety of HIV and AIDS policy organization councils and boards, including Positive Pedalers (PosPeds), the National Association of People with AIDS, and the National Center for Innovation in HIV Care. He is currently the co-chair of the AIDS United Public Policy Council.

Gary Virginia is a fundraiser, activist, volunteer and 30-year HIV/AIDS survivor. As an event producer, emcee and auctioneer, he has raised more than a million dollars for over 50 causes, including AIDS, breast cancer, emergency humanitarian relief and LGBTQ+ civil rights. His public service work includes: serving as past president of Positive Resource Center, Mr. San Francisco Leather 1996, SF Human Rights Commission LGBTQ Advisory Committee, Pride Brunch cofounder, president of San Francisco Pride Parade & Celebration in 2014 and 2015, and founder of Krewe de Kinque Mardi Gras charitable/social club in 2004. An active member of many organizations, he currently serves on the advisory boards of Positive Resource Center and SF Pride.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

This program is sponsored by ViiV, along with the generous support of Kaiser Permanente.