Howard Brown Health Marks National PrEP Day by Encouraging Whole-Person Approach to HIV Prevention


Howard Brown Health Marks National PrEP Day by Encouraging Whole-Person Approach to HIV Prevention


Chicago healthcare provider emphasizes that PrEP should be the beginning—not the entirety—of every patient’s healthcare relationship

CHICAGO — In recognition of National PrEP Day on October 10, Howard Brown Health is encouraging people to take advantage of one of the most effective tools available to prevent HIV while reminding patients that their healthcare should extend far beyond a prescription.

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is medication taken to reduce the risk of getting HIV. At Howard Brown, patients seeking PrEP can also connect with primary care, STI testing and treatment, PEP and DoxyPEP, behavioral health, vaccinations, chronic disease management, dental care and other preventive services.

Howard Brown provides PrEP and HIV prevention services to people of all genders and sexual orientations, including cisgender and transgender women, men who have sex with men (regardless of how they identify), nonbinary people, and others who may be at increased risk of HIV.

“PrEP is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent HIV—but prevention shouldn’t stop with a prescription. While expanding the ways people can access PrEP is critical to HIV prevention, Howard Brown believes convenience should not have to come at the expense of a relationship with a trusted healthcare provider,” said Dr. Travis Gayles, President and CEO of Howard Brown Health. “We care about your sexual health, but we also care about your blood pressure, your mental health, whether you’re getting a physical, the screenings you need and everything else that contributes to living a healthy life. At Howard Brown Health, our goal is to care for the whole person.”

That distinction is increasingly important as online and mail-order options make accessing medications such as PrEP more convenient.

For more than 50 years, Howard Brown Health has provided healthcare rooted in the needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ people. That history informs an integrated model of care in which affirming healthcare is not treated as a specialty or separate service but is embedded throughout the organization across the medical, behavioral and dental services the organization provides. Today, Howard Brown’s services reach a diverse patient population, including women and families, people of color, and young and aging adults across Chicago.

For many patients—especially women of color and others whose HIV risk is often overlooked—PrEP visits can be an entry point to comprehensive, ongoing care.

“We know HIV doesn’t impact only one community. Women of color, especially Black and Latina women, and men who have sex with men who may not identify as gay or bisexual, continue to face disproportionate risk,” said Dr. Gayles, who stressed that LGBTQ+ healthcare shouldn’t be reduced to sexual health.

A patient who initially comes to Howard Brown for PrEP may have questions about their mental health, need routine cancer screenings, be managing diabetes or high blood pressure, need help navigating insurance or simply be looking for a healthcare provider they can trust. Howard Brown’s providers and care teams can help connect patients with those services and provide continuity as their healthcare needs change over time.

“Our message this National PrEP Day is that you deserve more than a prescription,” Dr. Gayles said. “You deserve a medical home where your provider knows you, understands your health and is there for whatever comes next.”

To learn more about PrEP and HIV prevention services in addition to the integrated whole-person care available at Howard Brown Health, visit HowardBrown.org.

About Howard Brown Health

Howard Brown Health provides high-quality, integrated, patient-centered care that affirms each patient’s identity and experiences at seven health centers across Chicago. As the Midwest’s leading health center dedicated to whole-person care for the LGBTQ+ community and others seeking affirming care, Howard Brown offers a range of patient services including medical care, behavioral care, dental care, young adult care, sexual care, and aging adult care. Howard Brown is recognized as a federally qualified health center and serves more than 43,000 adults and youth each year, regardless of their health insurance coverage status and ability to pay. Learn more at: www.howardbrown.org.

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