Although the number of new cases of HIV decreased by 7% from 2017 to 2021, there are still nearly 1.3 million people living with HIV (PWH) in the United States, with 13% being unaware of their diagnosis (CDC, n.d.). The highest numbers of cases are in the South, and in 2021, African Americans and Hispanics accounted for nearly 70% of all new cases (CDC, n.d.).

In 2021, I transitioned to the department of research at a large metropolitan university. I swiftly integrated into the world of HIV, which is a focus of several of the researchers at the institution. As I began to explore potential research interests related to HIV, I became fascinated by what I was seeing and hearing. In a discussion with several of my colleagues, who work in HIV as researchers, sales reps, and clinicians, the topic of the HIV epidemic came up and each of them expounded on the efforts they were undertaking to do their part to end the epidemic-research on how to retain PWH in care, initiation of rapid start, prescribing of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), clinical care of PWH, etc. I found their work to be innovative and inspiring. However, as a practicing diabetologist, I sat thinking to myself-how many of my patients have or are at risk for HIV? I posed this question to my colleagues, who responded with blank stares. Guess what my answer was? NONE-you know why? Because I never ask. I don't do sexual health histories. I don't perform HIV testing and I never ask if my patients have any concerns about HIV risk/exposure. So, in my world HIV does not exist.

A few weeks later, I had another interesting encounter with a patient's family member who is a teacher. We were discussing students, and she stated, "My students are totally unaware of HIV. I mentioned it and they responded-'What's that?'"

These two instances left me perplexed. Why is it that only those who are involved in the care of PWH are kept abreast of new developments related to HIV. Why are primary care providers, specialists (diabetologist, cardiologist, oncologist), teachers, office workers, etc., not visited by sales reps or offered continuing education credits (CEUs) related to HIV risk, prevention, and treatment as a mandatory training on an annual basis much like OSHA requirements, human trafficking, geriatric care, and others? These educational efforts could be instrumental in increasing awareness of measures that we can all take in Ending the HIV Epidemic.

It is incumbent upon those of us who are involved in this space to share the urgency and the impact of this disease. To increase our efforts to educate and empower everyone we meet to do their part in understanding the risk, prevention, and treatment of HIV, I ask that we come from within our walls and reach outside of our silos and include others who could be instrumental in this fight to END HIV-the Hidden Epidemic!!

Disclosures

The author reports no real or perceived vested interests related to this article that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

Author Contributions

V. Brady was involved with the conceptualization, writing the original draft, and review and editing.

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