HIV and the LGBTQ Community

Bryn Mawr Post-bac LGBTQ health committee presents a discussion with leaders in tackling the HIV epidemic in Philadelphia and serving the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community. 

During this event, Evelyn Torres and Jay Johnson from ActionWellness and Dr. Mark Watkins, a family doctor at the Mazzoni Center, will be discussing tackling the HIV epidemic in Philadelphia and serving the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ.

ActionWellness is a social services organization that serves to enhance the lives of individuals living with HIV and other chronic illnesses in the Philadelphia area by providing a range of services to achieve physical, emotional, and economic wellness.

• Evelyn Torres is the executive director of ActionWellness and began her career as a case manager for Action Wellness, and has 20 years of experience working in the HIV field at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
• Jay Johnson is the director of volunteers at ActionWellness and has taken part in ground-breaking HIV treatment studies.
• Dr. Mark Watkins is family medicine doctor who practices at Mazzoni Center. Mazzoni Center provides comprehensive gender-affirming healthcare and wellness services in an LGBTQ-focused environment across the city of Philadelphia. Prior to Mazzoni Center, Dr. Watkins ran a family practice in Philly’s gayborhood and was one of the first physicians to treat HIV and AIDS patients.

Torres, Johnson, Dr. Watkins, ActionWellness, and Mazzoni Center have all been leaders in responding to the HIV epidemic and continuing to promote the wellness of the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia. Please join us to hear about their work and insights!