HIV / AIDS Section Welcome to the new HIV/AIDS Section Webpage, we anticipate members will view this as more of a real-time update on HIV/AIDS issues within our state and a focus of FPHA. It’s that time of year again to hold elections for our section’s Executive Board. Nosipho Beaufort, HIV/AIDS Section Secretary has been instrumental in starting the nomination process. We need nominations for the following positions; Chair (1); Co-Chair (1); Secretary (1); and Member at Large (1). Please send your nominations to Nosipho at Nosipho_Beaufort@doh.state.fl.us by May 31, including the person’s name and the position. If you are nominated, you will receive an email notification. Once the candidates accept the nomination, a brief bio-sketch will be emailed to our membership. You will have the opportunity to vote online June 16-20. Nosipho will send out an email with the link when voting opens. The new Executive Board will be announced no later than June 30. Special thanks to Nosipho for taking the lead in organizing the election process!            The current HIV/AIDS Section Executive Board has been an active participant in planning for the upcoming FPHA 2008 Annual Educational Conference. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Bernard Branson, Associate Director, Laboratory Diagnostics, CDC, will present on Thursday morning, 7/31. His topic is “Update on HIV Diagnostics & Expanded HIV Screening in Health-Care Settings”. In addition, during our section meeting, 3-5 pm, on the same day, we are please to announce that Dr. Ernesto Lamadrid, Medical Director, FL. Bureau of HIV/AIDS, will present “2008 HIV Infection in Florida: Where We Are and Where We Are Heading.”. I encourage and invite all HIV/AIDS section members to attend both presentations. The section business meeting will either be immediately before or after Dr. Lamadrid’s presentation. Also please review and participate in the Call for Abstracts as well as the awards nominations currently on the website. Attention all HIV/AIDS Section members, please make sure you have renewed your individual 2008 FPHA membership and have selected the HIV/AIDS Section as your 1st or 2nd choice. Please pass along the reminder to interested co-workers and contacts, we look forward to seeing our section continue to grow and represent the many sides of HIV/AIDS care.     Please contact Becky Grigg or Berry Bennett if you have any questions or suggestions for our section and/or the educational conference. Becky can be reached via email at Becky_Grigg@doh.state.fl.us or by phone at 850-245-4432. Berry can be reached via email at Berry_Bennett@doh.state.fl.us or by phone at 904-791-1527. We hope all of our section members have a safe and prosperous 2008.    Berry & Becky