PRN Meeting: December 08, 2021 Jointly provided by the Medical Society of the State of New York, at a Zoom webinar, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m (EST).

Target Audience:

Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants caring for people at risk for, or infected with HIV and/or viral hepatitis.

Course Director: James F. Braun, DO, President, Physicians' Research Network

Moderator: William M. Valenti, MD, Chair, Infectious Diseases Committee of the Medical Society of the State of New York

Guest Speakers and Presentations:

HIV Testing: Time For a Change, and the Reasons Why

Bernard M. Branson, MD

Principal Consultant
Scientific Affairs LLC
Atlanta, GA

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this educational session, participants will:
1. Recognize the outcomes of HIV testing with the old “new” testing algorithm that uses an initial Antigen/Antibody immunoassay followed by an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody discriminatory assay, and tests commercially available for these.
2. Understand the difference between HIV RNA tests for diagnosis versus monitoring.
3. Reconsider which baseline tests are essential before ART initiation.
4. Be able to describe the effects of PrEP and early effective therapy on HIV diagnostic tests.

Updates on COVID-19 Treatment and HIV/COVID-19 Coinfection

Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD

Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Co-Director, Harvard Center for AIDS Research
Director of HIV Clinical Services and Education
Massachusetts General Hospital

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this educational session, participants will:
1.  Describe the approach to treating non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19
2.  List considerations in treating hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
3.  Summarize current understanding of COVID-19 in people with HIV.

Accreditation Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Accreditation Requirements and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) and the Physicians’ Research Network (PRN). The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing Medical Education for physicians.

The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABIM MOC Recognition Statement: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Disclosure Statement:

Dr. Braun (Planner/Course Director) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Dr. William M. Valenti (Moderator) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  Dr. Bernard M. Branson (Presenter) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Dr. Branson will support his presentation and clinical recommendations with the best available evidence from the medical literature, and will submit his slides in advance for adequate peer review. Dr. Rajesh T. Gandhi (Presenter) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Dr. Gandhi will support his presentation and clinical recommendations with the best available evidence from the medical literature, and will submit his slides in advance for adequate peer review.

Financial Support:

This PRN CME activity is funded in part by unrestricted educational grants from:
Gilead Sciences; Janssen Therapeutics, a division of Janssen Products, LP; Merck & Co.; and ViiV Healthcare