Health Science Alum Shares HIV Work at Fast-Track Conference

Donrie Purcell, Ph.D., M.P.H., presented his HIV work at the Fast-Track Cities 2023 conference, which took place on Sept. 25-27, 2023, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center. Organized by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), his presentation was titled “Examining the Health Equity of Health Systems, Policy, and Data Gaps for People Living with HIV: The Health Equity Tracker.”

The presentation focused on his endeavor to address the significant gap HIV incidence, particularly in the southern United States, with a specific focus on Georgia and Louisiana. To tackle this challenge, he and colleagues developed a powerful tool known as the Health Equity Tracker (HET) at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute. What sets the HET apart is its ability to provide a more comprehensive array of metrics and insights compared to conventional choropleth maps.

HET is equipped with practical features, including comparison tools, enabling users to assess and contrast different locations and diseases. It also allows for customized reports tailored specifically for vulnerable communities, such as black women. Purcell says he firmly believes that making this data readily accessible to a wide audience, including patients, community organizers, physicians, and policymakers, will play a pivotal role in advancing health equity for individuals living with HIV across the United States.

Purcell holds a Ph.D. in Health Science from NSU, accompanied by an M.P.H in Epidemiology. Beyond his research endeavors, Purcell imparts his expertise in epidemiology as an adjunct assistant professor at Yeshiva University and Nebraska Methodist College. Additionally, he has taken on the responsibility of educating emerging healthcare leaders on the critical legal aspects of the healthcare domain.

Currently based at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, he actively contributes to advancing health equity through his involvement with the Health Equity Tracker. This multifaceted commitment exemplifies his dedication to underrepresented communities and resonates with NSU’s ethos of impactful scholarship and community advocacy.

Posted 10/08/23