Intersectional Summer Program Brings Emerging HIV Scholars to Northwestern

The second annual Summer Intensive Program in HIV Science was held at Northwestern University from July 31 to August 11, 2023. Eight scholars from across the United State were selected to attend the program. 

Sponsored by the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH) at Northwestern University and the Southern AIDS Coalition, the Summer Intensive is led by ISGMH Associate Director Jagadīśa-devaśrī Dācus, PhD.

The program was designed to support cross-training activities that focus on behavioral and data science to address disparities and inequities in HIV and health outcomes. Topics covered in the two-week curriculum included the following:

• HIV
• Research methodology (translational research, measurement, policy and research)
• Conceptual frameworks (health disparities, public health praxis)
• Data analysis (qualitative data, quantitative data, mixed methods data)
• Research ethics
• Current topics in HIV research 

"We had three goals in mind when we designed the sessions for this program: optimizing opportunities for enhanced training, scholarly development, and encouraging peer networking and conversation," said Dācus. "To achieve these, we have endeavored to create a program experience that emphasizes a diverse array of topics and includes instructional faculty who are early stage, mid-career, and senior investigators in HIV science as well as instructional faculty who are community based and nonprofit leaders in HIV prevention policy, programming, and practice."

Participants of the two-week program gained knowledge and skills to incorporate into their education and careers. Lectures were led by Northwestern faculty and participating academic and community collaborators from Chicagoland and from across the country.