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t m c » p u l s e | m ay 2 0 1 9 33 "We have the tools, so the real chal- lenge is: Do we have the political will, the applied funding, the atten- tion to the nuances to be able to implement those tools in the spaces where they are going to make the most difference so we can actually end the HIV epidemic?" Ironically, in cities such as San Francisco and New York, where the autoimmune disease was highly concentrated for a long time, new infection rates have dropped dra- matically and many people living with HIV have achieved viral sup- pression. But in the South, rates of new infections are still rising among some populations. "A lot of the attention and politi- cal will occurred on the coasts," said Flash, a clinical assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. "We used to think of HIV as the gay- related infectious disease, so areas in the country where people rallied around their brothers and sisters infected with HIV were also areas that were 'safe spaces' to express your sexual identity. Even though the initial cases were identified on the coasts, a shift happened and we started to realize this wasn't something that was gay-related. ... We realized that anyone who had an exposure could be infected. But initially, perhaps, we weren't paying attention. Part of what happened in this space of not paying attention is people from other communities were getting infected and folks weren't noticing." Now, Flash said, we have to be innovative and creative to end the HIV epidemic—in the South and elsewhere. "Ten years is a long time when you have the tools," she said. "It is really an implementation challenge. The worst thing someone can say to me is, 'That's the way we have always done it.' That is the very best way to get Charlene Flash going. We cannot tolerate complacency for something that is so important. We can't rest on how things have always been done. We have to challenge that mantra and we have to ask, 'What will our future be?'" In the United States and around the world, the tools [to fight HIV] are available, so it's not that there is a 'secret sauce' or some science that we have not yet discovered. We have the tools, so the real challenge is: Do we have the political will, the applied funding, the attention to the nuances to be able to implement those tools in the spaces where they are going to make the most difference so we can actually end the HIV epidemic? — CHARLENE FLASH, M.D. Associate chief medical officer at Legacy Community Health and clinical assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine Go further. At the TWU Institute of Health Sciences – Houston Center, you can earn your graduate degree in nursing, nutrition, physical or occupational therapy, health care administration or business. Get the support you need every step of the way. Learn more at TWU.edu/houston H O U S T O N – M E D I C A L C E N T E R 6750 Main Street | Houston, TX 77030 | 713- 422- 2779 | ichoustonhotel.com Modern Luxury in the Heart of the Texas Medical Center.