Arvin Sanders Awarded the Pat Christen Leadership

Arvin D. Sanders is this year's Pat L. Christen HIV/AIDS Future Leaders Intern. A second year clinical psychology doctoral student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Sanders will be working with the National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition on a report highlighting the health disparities among black gay men and the ways strengthened federal policy could im­prove mental health and reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in this group. "Arvin understands the importance of supporting African-American men who have sex with men (MSM) through HIV prevention research and carefully considered new programs," said Ernest Hopkins, Director of Federal Affairs for SFAF. Sanders believes that to improve the overall health of the community of black gay men, current and future mental health professionals and researchers must be better educated in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. The Pat L. Christen HIV/AIDS Future Leaders Internship was created in 2005 to identify and nurture the next generation of HIV/AIDS leaders.