In this episode Dr Vanessa Apea joins Dr Naomi Sutton for a frank discussion on health inequalities, their social and economic determinants, and how they are further compounded for persons living with HIV (PLWH). Vanessa offers listeners some practical advice on how healthcare professionals can improve patient care and services while better advocating for PLWH: provide safe spaces for people to share their individual lived experience, display cultural humility, and use the 4 As (Acknowledge, Advocate, Amplify and Activate) to support and empower patient voices.

"We have inequalities and inequity in experience because there is differential power, so whenever there is an opportunity to shift, share power, foster true inclusion and belonging, that’s where we will see change."

Dr Vanessa Apea is a Consultant Physician in Genito-urinary and HIV medicine and the clinical lead for Sexual Health at Bart's Health NHS Trust. She is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. Vanessa received an NHS 70 Windrush Award for her contributions to improving health equity, a central focus of her clinical work.

She is a member of the London Fast-Track Cities Initiative stigma subgroup working to get London to zero HIV stigma. She is also the medical director of NAZ, a charity advocating for high quality sexual health and HIV support services for BAME communities. Vanessa is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and a Fulbright scholar with a Master's in Public Health from Harvard University.

She can be found on Twitter @vanessa_apea

UK-UNB-2651

Jan 2024

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