FIT for PrEP: Adapting a prison transitions program for post-release PrEP care

Becky White, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of medicine in UNC’s Division of Infectious Diseases and co-director of HIV Services for the North Carolina Department of Corrections. White’s research focuses on the dynamic interface between public health and medicine. She was one of the leading physicians who described the association between the release of HIV-infected prisoners and the subsequent increase on their viral loads. This connection continues to have significant HIV transmission and health outcome implications for at-risk populations in the community as well as for released prisoners.

White helped to conduct the first randomized controlled trial of directly observed antiretroviral therapy vs. self-administered antiretroviral therapy in a state prison system. She also has helped implement a first-ever HIV opt-out screening in the North Carolina prison system. She is expanding her research focus on the HIV at-risk community from HIV screening/testing to access and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in underserved populations. Her clinical interests include treatment of HIV infection and syphilis.