Past Hub Events

Dr. Elizabeth King, an Infectious Diseases Physician and Researcher at the Oak Tree Clinic, gave an insightful presentation on aging with HIV, drawing from her practice where over half her patients are women aged 50 and above. She reflected on the epidemic’s early years, marked by devastating mortality, and key breakthroughs like AZT, combination therapies, and single-pill regimens that transformed outcomes. Dr. King highlighted ongoing challenges, including earlier onset of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline, as well as rising HIV diagnoses in older adults. She also addressed systemic issues like ageism and stigma, which contribute to delayed diagnoses and insufficient prevention efforts. Advocating for holistic care, Dr. King emphasized team-based approaches, regular screening, and social prescriptions like art classes to combat isolation. She concluded by celebrating the resilience of older adults with HIV, noting that 84% of women with HIV in a recent study reported aging successfully, highlighting their strength and optimism.

The talk, led by colleagues from the Women HIV and Health Research Program at Women's College Program - Mona Loutfy, Mary Ndung’u, Logan Kennedy and Angela Underhill, explored feminism with a focus on intersectionality and transnational feminism. Their presentation highlighted the historical and ongoing contributions and challenges faced by women of colour, particularly Black women, emphasizing the dual marginalization in both the feminist and civil rights movements. The talk celebrated figures like Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells, discussing the evolution of feminism through its various waves, delving into Kimberly Crenshaw's intersectionality theory with legal case studies, and concluding with a call for culturally competent healthcare, social justice advocacy, and solidarity in supporting women living with HIV.

Join Dr. Mel Murray as she reflects on her career journey in healthcare and research, sharing valuable insights on finding work-life balance, making meaningful career choices, and navigating the winding road of professional growth. In this talk, Dr. Murray addresses her experiences with mentors, the importance of community engagement in research, and the challenges women face in balancing family planning with demanding research careers. She also offers practical tips for sustaining productivity, handling imposter syndrome, and securing funding.

This panel brought together three accomplished leaders in healthcare and research to share their career journeys and offer advice for those coming up in the field. Dr. Madeleine Durand (HIV Specialist, Researcher, and Assistant Clinical Professor), Dr. Hélène Côté (Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), and Wangari Tharao (Director of Research & Programs) gave personal insights into the lessons they've learned along the way. Wangari spoke about her work advocating for the health of racialized women and the early challenges she faced in securing funding. Despite these hurdles, she successfully built a research program that now collaborates with researchers and policymakers across Canada, making a real impact in community health and HIV research. Hélène discussed her transition from basic science to HIV research, where she has focused on improving health outcomes for women living with HIV. She shared how her lab work is supplemented with research with tangible, immediate applications. Dr. Madeleine Durand explored the unique challenges of balancing a career as both a researcher and clinician, emphasizing the value of strong mentorship, teamwork, and finding fulfillment in both clinical practice and research. The panel focused on the importance of persistence, building support networks, and seizing opportunities for growth while overcoming gender biases. The session wrapped up with a Q&A, where they shared practical tips for anyone pursuing a career in healthcare and research.

In this Clinical Hub Talk, Dr. Melanie Murray discusses key aspects of reproductive health and menopause for women living with HIV. She highlights the unique challenges these women face, including higher rates of infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, and earlier menopause onset. Dr. Murray also addresses the limited research on women living with HIV, despite them comprising a significant proportion of the global population living with HIV. She outlines the importance of hormonal health, bone density, and the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy, while emphasizing the need for better screening, open communication with healthcare providers, and personalized care plans to ensure well-being through menopause and beyond.

In this video, Dr. Mona Loutfy discusses the latest research on breastfeeding for women living with HIV in high-income countries. She shares insights from real-life cases in Canada, the U.S., and Europe, highlighting that no infants have contracted HIV through breastfeeding in these scenarios. Dr. Loutfy emphasizes the importance of maintaining an undetectable viral load and adhering to treatment, while also reviewing the 2024 guidelines that support breastfeeding with close monitoring. Additionally, she addresses the global initiative known as INFORM+, aimed at enhancing healthcare guidance and enabling providers to offer safer, evidence-based advice.

In her talk at the WCHC Hub, Dr. JoLee Sasakamoose, a member of M'Chigeeng First Nation and CIHR Research Chair in Indigenous Wellness and Health Equity at the University of Regina, emphasized the integration of traditional Indigenous knowledge with healthcare practices through the Cultural Responsiveness Framework (CRF). Co-created with input from 74 First Nations communities in Saskatchewan, the CRF was developed into a theory by Dr. Sasakamoose to guide Indigenous approaches to health and reduce health inequities. It advocates for restoring First Nations health systems while transforming healthcare delivery to be culturally responsive, fostering reconciliation through a "middle ground" where Indigenous and Western methodologies harmonize. Dr. Sasakamoose highlighted the alarmingly high HIV and STBBI rates in Saskatchewan and stressed the urgent need for trauma-informed, culturally safe care models like the CRF. She called for the harmonization of Indigenous and Western medical approaches, efforts to combat stigma, the creation of culturally respectful healthcare environments, and the involvement of Indigenous communities in evaluating health programs. Her presentation was a compelling call for systemic change, emphasizing community-driven, culturally grounded solutions to improve health outcomes and equity.

Ashley Lacombe-Duncan and Asya Gunduz from the Trans Women and Gender Diverse People Sub-Hub of the WCHC Hub took part in this on AEHR Talk in May. Ashley, an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan with extensive experience in LGBTQ+ healthcare research, stressed the importance of addressing historical harms in HIV research and building reciprocal relationships with marginalized communities. She outlined future initiatives to promote equity in health research, including disseminating gender-affirming healthcare resources and building national networks for community engagement. Asya, an advocate and Policy Lead in trans and gender diverse HIV prevention, stressed the necessity of inclusive research practices. She underscored the systemic exclusions racialized trans individuals face and urged researchers to operationalize exemptions and irregularities in research implementation to uplift marginalized communities and ensure equitable benefits for all.