WASHINGTON - Howard University’s 11th Annual International Conference on Stigma will be held Nov. 16- 20, 2020 as a virtual event. The theme of this year’s conference is “Faces of Stigma” and will spotlight the problem of intersectional stigma, which refers to persons or groups who embody multiple stigmatized identities.

The International Conference on Stigma will cover the topics of faith as well as personal and professional development and will also include plenary sessions, workshops and scientific poster presentations. This year’s conference will also include open discussions on a range of stigma topics such as mental health, disability and COVID-19.

To register for the conference, visit http://www.whocanyoutell.org/2020-conference/.

“The 11th Annual International Conference on Stigma will not only address stigma related to HIV/AIDS, but also mental health issues and stigma caused by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Sohail Rana, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the Howard University College of Medicine and conference director. “The purpose of the conference is to end the stigma surrounding HIV, mental health and other intersecting stigmas, while being an important voice for marginalized people.”

The main speakers include Gail Wyatt, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and Laron Nelson, Ph.D., R.N., associate dean for global affairs and planetary health and associate professor of nursing at Yale University. Additional highlighted speakers include Lisa Bowleg, M.A., Ph.D., professor of applied social psychology, Department of Psychology, George Washington University, and Janet Turan, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor, Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

As featured speakers, Wyatt will address the strengths and stigma of poverty among African-American couples with differing HIV statuses, and Nelson will speak on the impact of the health care environment on HIV-related outcomes in African and African diasporic men who have sex with men. 

In addition, this year’s International Conference on Stigma will feature personal video clips from the community to share their stigma stories. Raffle prizes will be given throughout the conference, and individuals who have been working diligently to eliminate stigma will be recognized and awarded. There will be multiple networking opportunities with support for next generation researchers and advocates working to combat stigma. It will include a movie night and stigma-focused artwork with prizes for the top submissions.

See a full agenda here: whocanyoutell.org

The stigma associated with health conditions is a major health problem and impedes treatment and prevention efforts. Each year, the International Conference on Stigma brings together a full roster of researchers, educators, policymakers, activists, faith leaders, youth and community leaders to discuss health-related stigmas and strategies to overcome them. 

The major sponsors of the event are Gilead Sciences and the D.C. Department of Health. Other significant sponsors include Howard University School of Social Work and the Office of the Provost, the Mid-Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center, the National Minority AIDS Coalition and the D.C. Center for AIDS Research.

For more information on the conference, contact Patricia Houston at phouston@Howard.edu

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard University also produces more African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information about Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media Contact: Sholnn Freemn, sholnn.freeman@howard.edu