Thursday, December 12, 2024
Amanda Brosnan, MPAS, MPH, PA-C, a faculty member in the Physician Assistant Studies program at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, was honored with the prestigious Prevention Pillar Award at this year’s World AIDS
Day event, hosted by CAN Community Health. Presented by the Tarrant County HIV Administrative Agency, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to HIV prevention, one of the key
pillars of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.
Brosnan’s peers and members of the community voted to select her for this honor, highlighting her impact on public health and her dedication to educating future health care providers about HIV prevention.
“It is such an honor and means to me that I’m fulfilling a purpose I feel called to,” Brosnan said. “To take my clinical experience and the patient interactions that have shaped me as a provider, and to share that with future providers, is incredibly powerful. This recognition reinforces that the work we do matters and is making a difference in our community.”
The Tarrant County HIV Administrative Agency annually recognizes exceptional individuals across the four strategic pillars of the federal EHE initiative: Diagnose, Treat, Prevent and Respond. Brosnan received the Prevention Pillar Award for her contributions to expanding community awareness and education about PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a medication that significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV.
She recently hosted an HIV Symposium — “Bringing together future health care practitioners and champions in HIV care to tackle challenges and work toward ending the HIV epidemic” — on the topic of a “status neutral approach” to ending the HIV epidemic. This involves both rapid start, which means providing treatment for those newly diagnosed with HIV as soon as possible, and PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis to help prevent the acquisition of HIV.
The event featured a panel of local experts, student presentations and more.
A commitment rooted in public health
Brosnan’s journey in HIV prevention began during her tenure at the Tarrant County Public Health Department, where she worked in a clinic serving those living with HIV, “working in underserved communities as a clinician, I realized that what I was doing wasn’t enough to address patients’ overall health outcomes,” Brosnan said. “That realization led me to public health and, ultimately, to focusing on HIV prevention. The community’s resilience and fight against stigma are truly inspiring, and I feel privileged to contribute to this cause.”
Her work in academia has amplified her impact. As evaluation and curriculum faculty for the South-Central AIDS Education and Training Center, or AETC, Brosnan has educated health care providers and frontline workers about PrEP, emphasizing its importance as a prevention tool.
“HIV education remains a critical need,” Brosnan explained. “Many practicing providers
still carry stigma or fear surrounding HIV. Teaching students to approach it like
any other chronic condition is essential to breaking down those barriers.”
A legacy of leadership
Brosnan’s leadership and dedication exemplify HSC’s mission to create solutions for a healthier community. Lauren Dobbs, MMS, PA-C, program director and department chair of UNTHSC’s Physician Assistant Studies program, praised Brosnan’s achievement.
“PA Brosnan is living the values of the HSC. It is awesome to see her recognized by community members for her passion and efforts in prevention and education,” Dobbs said. “She is an outstanding model for all healthcare providers.”
The Tarrant County HIV Administrative Agency also commended Brosnan’s contributions.
“Each year, we honor the exceptional work of community members dedicated to ending
the HIV epidemic across the EHE pillars,” said Lonnetta Willson, HIV Initiatives Manager.
“Amanda’s involvement with AETC highlights her passion for educating community partners
on PrEP, ensuring widespread access to this vital prevention tool. Congratulations
to Amanda for being a beacon of hope in public health advancement.”
The fight to end HIV
The Prevention Pillar Award reflects Brosnan’s alignment with the goals of the EHE initiative, which aims to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 90% by 2030. Despite modest progress, achieving these goals requires significant scaling up of prevention strategies such as PrEP coverage, which stood at only 36% in 2022.
CAN Community Health, the organization that hosted the World AIDS Day ceremony, provides comprehensive services to address HIV prevention and treatment, including free HIV testing, PrEP and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) services, and education and counseling. Their partnership with the Tarrant County HIV Administrative Agency underscores the importance of community collaboration in achieving EHE milestones.
For Brosnan, the journey continues. “The work is not over,” she said. “This award affirms that I’m on the right track. Together, we can make a true impact on ending the HIV epidemic.”
From HSC Newsroom - Community by Eric Griffey