8th Annual HIV Conference (Hybrid Event)

Mental Health & HIV Activist 
Founder of WhatsintheMirror  
Assistant Director of HIV Peer Advocacy at ASHwell 
Interim Chair of the City of Austin’s Area HIV Planning Council 

Tarik Daniels (he/him/his) is a Mental Health & HIV Activist, and Founder of WhatsintheMirror in Austin, Texas. His artistic works focus on social injustices towards the black queer diaspora including persons living with HIV through writing and producing several theater productions and publishing a novel, NO BONDS SO STRONG. Currently working as the Assistant Director of HIV Peer Advocacy at ASHwell and serving his second term as Interim Chair of the City of Austin’s Area HIV Planning Council. He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a concentration in Political Science and Non-Profit Management. Tarik is also the Artistic Director of the Southern Arts Collective and has produced the Art Heals Festival since 2020 both at the intersection of art and HIV awareness. Winner of the Austin Under 40 Award in Arts & Entertainment, SXSW Community Leader Award, and many other awards and national publications including 2021 Plus Magazine Person of the Year and 2021 POZ 100.  

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Assistant Professor 
Associate Program Director, ID Fellowship Program 
Assistant Clinical Director, AIDS Education & Training Center (AETC) 

Dr. Patrik Hornak is originally from the Dayton, Ohio area, he completed both undergrad and medical school at the University of Cincinnati. He then trained in both internal medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), subsequently joining the UTMB faculty as an Assistant Professor of Medicine. Clinically, he sees inpatient infectious diseases consults at UTMB’s Galveston and League City campuses. In the outpatient clinic, he has a special interest in providing HIV/AIDS care along with PrEP and PEP. Dr. Hornak also has a passion for teaching and serves numerous roles in UTMB's John Sealy School of Medicine and directs the outpatient HIV elective for the internal medicine residency. He also serves as a faculty member of the AIDS Education & Training Center Program which conducts HIV-related education, training, and outreach for healthcare professionals in the surrounding region. Additionally, he is active in various on-and-off campus initiatives involving medical education, HIV treatment and prevention, general infectious diseases, and LGBTQ+ health.   

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Chief, Division of Infection Diseases 
Brigham And Women’s Hospital 
Harriet Ryan Albee Professor of Medicine 
Harvard Medical School 

Dr. Daniel R. Kuritzkes received his BS and MS degrees in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University, and his MD from Harvard Medical School.  He completed his clinical and research training in internal medicine and infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and was a visiting scientist at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research before joining the faculty at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.  Dr. Kuritzkes returned to Harvard Medical School in 2002, where he is now the Harriet Ryan Albee Professor of Medicine and Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham, and Women’s Hospital.  Dr. Kuritzkes has published extensively on antiretroviral therapy and drug resistance in HIV-1 infection.  He has chaired several multicenter studies of HIV therapy and previously chaired the AIDS Clinical Trials Group.  He has served on numerous NIH committees, including as a member of the NIH Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council.  He is a former member of the Department of Health and Human Services panel on guidelines for antiretroviral therapy and a past Chair of the HIV Medicine Association Board of Directors.  He has been a member of several editorial boards and serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.  His research interests focus on HIV therapeutics, antiretroviral drug resistance, HIV eradication and more recently, COVID-19.

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Associate Professor 
Infectious Diseases 
University Of New Mexico 

Dr. Natalie Mariam Salas is an assistant professor in the division of Infectious Diseases, department of Internal Medicine. She is a committed University of New Mexico Lobo, having completed her internal medicine residency and her infectious diseases fellowship at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Salas is passionate about education as reflected in her roles both as Associate Program Director and Program Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship. She has developed numerous curricula not only for the division of Infectious Disease, but across the School of Medicine; all dedicated to fostering a love for patient-centered care and stamping out infections. She has invested in her own professional educational development and is a Medical Education Scholar, and an ACGME Equity Matters Fellow. Her clinical practice, both as an inpatient consultant and an HIV primary care provider has fostered a deep awareness of the impact of social determinants of health in patient outcomes. For this reason, she has focused her educational and academic pursuits on improving health equity for the vulnerable and minoritized populations of New Mexico. In pursuit of contributing to a more just, equitable and patient-centered medical education system, Dr. Salas has served on numerous medical education focused anti-racism committees, including the GME Anti-racism Curricular Committee and the Learning Environment Anti-racism Committee. She served as the Director for GME DEI Curricular Development in the SOM Office for DEI where she has collaborated with program directors across the School of Medicine in developing DEI curricula for healthcare education. 

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CEO 
Access Care of Coastal Texas 

Mr. Sommer is an executive that has focused his career in the non-profit sector. He assumed the helm of Access Care of Coastal Texas, Inc. (ACCT) in December of 2021. Sommer brought to ACCT more than 15 years of chief executive experience with Galveston non-profits.  

Sommer holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, studied at the Santa Chiara Study Center in Castiglione Fiorentino, Italy, and completed graduate studies in Architectural History and Historic Preservation in the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. He also holds a professional certificate in Organizational Improvement from the Human Dimensions of Organizations Program at UT Austin. Mr. Sommer is past Chair of the Research, Education and Community Health Coalition of Galveston County (REACH) and continues to serve on the Executive Committee. He is an active member of the Collaborative for HIV Education, Clinicians, and Key Stakeholders (CHECKS). Sommer is a member of NMAC, the International AIDS Society, and is a life-member of the Texas Exes and the Phi Kappa Phi National Graduate Honor Society. 

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Infectious Disease Fellow 

Daniel Stanton, MD is a physician with a passion for medical education, and HIV care. He also has interest in Biocontainment practices, global health, and general Internal Medicine. He is originally from the Dallas area, attended undergraduate at Texas A&M University, then completed his medical education and residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX, where he is currently completing his training in Infectious Diseases as a Fellow.  

He is committed to improving practices and patient care at UTMB on a multisystem level beginning with patient outreach, community education, and physician training programs in all aspects of healthcare. He loved UTMB for its comprehensive offerings in infectious diseases, citing the institution's exceptional faculty, roots in tropical medicine, and state-of-the-art biocontainment units. Dr. Stanton appreciates the diverse range of cases he encounters, and the unique challenges presented by patients from the prison hospital, cruise ships, and the Texas coastline. His dedication and passion for medicine make him an invaluable asset to the healthcare community at UTMB. 

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Assistant Professor 
Louisiana State University  

Dr. Elyse Stevens is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at LSU School of Medicine currently working in addiction medicine and primary care at UMCNO. She is also active in local community outreach, addressing health disparities, and health education Dr. Elyse Sparkls Stevens is an accomplished healthcare professional with a diverse educational background. She graduated with honors from Bard College at Simon's Rock, earning an Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services. She continued her academic journey at Bunker Hill Community College, where she obtained an Associates of Science in Biology with honors. Dr. Stevens pursued her medical education at Tulane School of Medicine, graduating with a Medical Doctorate and a Master’s in Public Health focused on Global Health Systems and Development from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Morehouse School of Medicine and is board certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Preventative Medicine. Dr. Stevens currently serves as a Primary Care and Addiction Medicine Physician at Louisiana State University, where she is also involved in teaching and course direction in Population Medicine. She is an active member of professional societies such as the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine and serves on various committees and boards, including Luke's House Clinic and the Anti-Racism/Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee. Dr. Stevens has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to healthcare and community service, including the Louisiana State Champion of Service Award and Junior Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. 

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Outreach & Prevention Coordinator  
Access Care of Coastal Texas 

Thomas (Tom) Griffiths is the Outreach and Prevention Coordinator with Access Care of Coastal Texas (ACCT). Tom has been working in HIV Prevention since 2018.  HIV has been living with me for over 25 years. 

Community Engagement Manager 
Abounding Prosperity, Inc. 

Chris Walker is a remarkable individual with a deep commitment to public health and advocacy. His journey into public health began in 2017 when he was diagnosed with HIV during his senior year in college. This personal experience drove him to become a passionate advocate for people affected by HIV and other systemic health issues. Over the past seven years, Christopher has dedicated himself to this cause by working at various levels—local, regional, and national. His work has involved collaborating with different organizations that provide services to individuals impacted by systemic health challenges. His advocacy work is rooted in the belief that by coming together and supporting one another, we can address systemic health disparities and create a more inclusive and equitable society. Currently, Chris is the community engagement manager at Abounding Prosperity in Dallas, TX, and a public health consultant. Chris’ story is a testament to the power of personal experience and determination in driving positive change in the field of public health and beyond.