Stigma in HIV Prevention and Care

Program Details

Presenters: Rosanne Sugay, MD, MPH, AAHIVS & Rob Phoenix, APRN, FNP-C

Provides 2.00 hours of CE/CME credit (Presented: March 3, 2026; Reviewed May 20, 2026; Expires June 1, 2028)
Online CME credit fee: $100

*This program has been approved for Ethics credit.

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Overview

This program will cover Stigma in HIV Prevention and Care. This training program fulfills the HIV stigma training requirements outlined in Nevada's Senate Bill 439, which requires healthcare providers to complete a 2-hour HIV stigma training course to renew their license.

HIV stigma refers to irrational or negative attitudes, behaviors, and judgments towards people living with or at risk of HIV. It can negatively affect the health and well-being of people living with HIV by discouraging some individuals from learning their HIV status, accessing treatment, or staying in care. HIV stigma can also affect those at risk of HIV by discouraging them from seeking HIV prevention tools and testing, and from talking openly with their sex partners about safer sex options.

Populations disproportionately affected by HIV are also often affected by stigma due to, among other things, their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, drug use, or sex work. Breaking down HIV stigma is a critical part of ending the HIV epidemic.   

Learning Objectives

Following participation in this course, participants should be able to:

  • Use person-first language in conversations
  • Define stigma and describe how it pertains to minority groups
  • Describe how HIV stigma can act as a barrier to care
  • Identify the role of implicit bias in the delivery of patient care
  • Identify stigma barriers within your organization and develop an action plan to address
  • Self-reflect on participant's own implicit bias

Program Faculty

Rosanne Sugay, MD, MPH, AAHIVS
Medical Epidemiologist, Southern Nevada Health District
Rosanne M. Sugay, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics by the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS). Her journey in medicine began with a strong foundation in outpatient primary care, but it is her work as a medical epidemiologist at Southern Nevada Health District that fuels her passion for public health. Her clinical work at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada’s Wellness Center and Southern Nevada Health District, providing prevention and treatment services for people with HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reminds her daily of the significant impact healthcare providers can have on vulnerable communities. Beyond her daily public health work and clinical practice, Dr. Sugay advocates for empowering providers with the latest clinical knowledge and resources. She serves as the medical director of the Pacific AETC-Nevada.

Rob Phoenix, APRN, FNP-C
Owner, Huntridge Family Clinic
Rob is a family nurse practitioner in Las Vegas, NV, where he owns and operates Huntridge Family Clinic. Rob focuses his practice on HIV prevention, HIV treatment, Transgender health care, and providing primary care. Rob is a provider of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) care in Southern Nevada.