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Our History

The South Carolina HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference was founded in 1984 to provide an update on the major STDs, including AIDS, in South Carolina and to focus on some behavioral factors that influence disease. It was hoped that identifiable health and sexual behaviors would enhance public health workers’ ability to affect disease control. Throughout the years, the SC Conference has grown to include much more than current information on STDs and AIDS to health care providers, public health workers, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, and community members. 

previous conferences

1984: Sexually Transmitted Disease Conference

Townhouse Motor Inn - 

Columbia

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

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  • Ward Cates (CDC Director of Division of STDs)

  • Sevgi Aral (CDC STD)

  • Various DHEC staff

1985: Sexually Transmitted Disease Conference

South Carolina

  • No other information available.

1986: Sexually Transmitted Disease Conference

Ramada Inn - Columbia

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

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  • E. Russell Alexander (CDC Chief of Epidemiology Research Branch, Division of STDs)

  • Various DHEC staff

1987: Sexually Transmitted Disease Conference

Holiday Inn – Lugoff

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​

  • Various DHEC staff

1988: (5th) Annual Conference on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Ramada Inn - Columbia

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​

  • Ward Cates, MD, MPH Harold Dowda, PhD

  • J. Richard Allison, Jr., MD

  • Paula Van Ness

  • Lynda Kettinger Brian Keay, MD

  • Carol Pozsik, RN, MPH Robert Ball, MD

  • Ernie Bell

1989: Annual Conference on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

First year at Sheraton [now Double Tree] Conference Center

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:​

​

  • Paul Kawata

  • Douglas Crane, MD

  • Joseph Lossick, DO

  • Jonathan Zenilman, MD

  • Harold Dowda, PhD

  • Nora Bell, PhD

  • Susan Lake, MPH, JD

  • Stephen Patterson, M Ed

1990: STD-90-- Conference on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

South Carolina

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Richard Keeling, MD

  • Ted Holloway, MD

  • Robert Rolfs, MD

  • David Weber, MD, MPH

  • Jonathan Zenilman, MD

1991: STD-91-- 8th Annual SC Conference on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

South Carolina

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Paul Wiesner, MD

  • Ruth Ann Dunn, MD

  • Jeffrey L. Jones, MD, MPH

  • Robert Ball, MD, MPH

  • Fred Kroger, M Ed

  • Joyce Dilleshaw

  • Julie Lumpkin

  • Ed Thompson

1992: STD-92-- 9th Annual South Carolina Conference on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

South Carolina

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Kathleen Toomey, MD, MPH

  • Paul Effler, MD, MPH

  • Charles P. Austin, MCJ

  • Donald Williamson, MD

1993: STD-93-- 10th Annual South Carolina Conference on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

South Carolina

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Richard Keeling, MD

  • Ted Holloway, MD

  • Robert Rolfs, MD

  • David Weber, MD, MPH

  • Jonathan Zenilman, MD

1993: HIV Prevention: The Challenge Before Us (1st Annual HIV/AIDS)

South Carolina - Pre-Conference (SC HIV Network’s 4th Annual Conference): Gordon Raley

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Carlos Velez, JD

  • Bobbie Person, MPH

  • Dennis Nalty, PhD

  • Linda Nalty, RN, MHEd

  • Norma Harris, MPH

  • Ed Johnson, MEd

  • Doyle Kay, MDiv

  • Bobby Lee, DIS

  • Pat Stribling, RN, MN

1994: STD-94-- 11th Annual South Carolina Conference on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

South Carolina

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Beverly Coleman-Miller, MD

  • Ronald Valdiserri, MD, MPH

  • Ed Thompson, MD, MPH (Presentation: Health Care Reform and the Public’s Health)

1994: Linking Communities: Skills, Strategies and Solutions (2nd Annual HIV/AIDS Conference)

South Carolina

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​​

  • Jeffrey Kelly, PhD

  • Darlene Sparks Washington, DPM

  • Francis Page, RN, MPH

  • Warren (Buck) Buckingham, III, BA

1995: Prevention Through Partnerships: Weaving the Threads of Diversity

South Carolina

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Paul Kawata

  • Richard Keeling, MD

  • The Honorable Maggie Wallace Glover

  • Helene Gayle, MD

  • The Reverend Rosetta E. DuBois-Gadson

​

Technically the SC’s 1st Annual “STD/HIV Conference,” but 12th in the sequence of all conferences.

1996: Visions for Change

South Carolina

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Guadalupe Lara

  • Michael Carrera

  • Rae Lewis-Thornton

  • Robert Fullilove, MD

  • Terry Tafoya

​

SC’s 2nd Annual STD/HIV Conference, but 13th in the sequence of all conferences.

1997: Confronting Challenges Together: Building Hope for Our Future

(SC’s 3rd Annual STD/HIV Conference)

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Abraham Verghese, MD

  • Jeanne White-Ginder

  • SADAC Youth Theatre Group

  • The Reverend Norma Jennings

1998: Celebrating Our Strengths, Sharing Our Challenges

(The Annual SC STD/HIV Conference)

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Walter Curran, MD, MPH

  • David Johnson

  • R. Scott Hitt, MD

  • Patricia Russell-McCloud, JD

  • M. Joycelyn Elders, MD, MS

1999: Weaving Past Lessons Into Hope for the Future

(The Annual SC HIV/STD Conference)

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Bambi W. Sumpter-Gaddist, DrPH

  • George W. Roberts, PhD

  • Sandra McDonald

  • Robert Fullilove, III, EdD

  • Phill Wilson

2000: Sharing Voices, Visions, & Victories

(The Annual SC HIV/STD Conference)

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Helen Miramontes, MS, RN, FAAN

  • Ronald Weatherford, MDiv

  • Jane Fowler

  • Pernessa Seele, MS

  • Terry Tafoya

2001: Creating Partnerships, Solutions & Change

(The Annual SC HIV/STD Conference)

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Ronald O. Valdiserri, MD, MPH

  • Ralph DiClemente, PhD

  • James L. King

  • South Carolina Corrections Panel

  • Charlene Doria-Ortiz

2002: The New Horizon: Bridging Community & Clinical Perspectives

(The 2002 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Charleston

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Charles B. Hicks, MD

  • Bill Jenkins, PhD, MPH

  • Byllye Avery

  • Donna Futterman, MD

  • Scott Fried

2003: Rising to the Challenge

(The 2003 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Charleston

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Kate Whetten, MPH, PhD

  • Gail Wyatt, PhD

  • Luther Virgil, MD

  • Dawn Averitt

  • The Reverend Norma Jennings

2004: Prevention and Care: Uniting for the Journey Ahead

(The 2004 SC HIV/STD Conference)

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Mervyn Silverman, MD, MPH

  • Christopher H. Bates

  • Jacqueline Coleman

  • Julie Scofield

  • George W. Roberts, PhD

2005: A Changing Landscape: Climbing to New Heights

(The 2005 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Greenville

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Phill Wilson

  • Terje Anderson

  • Gina Wingood, PhD

  • Bambi Gaddist, DrPH

  • River Huston

2006: Facing Challenges of the Rising Tides

(The 2006 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Myrtle Beach

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Kevin Fenton, MD, PhD

  • William “Bill” Smith

  • Kathie M. Hiers

  • Loretta Sweet Jemmott, PhD, FAAN, RN

2007: Critical Times in the South

(The 2007 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Myrtle Beach

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • The Honorable Joseph H. Neal

  • Mark Zatyrka

  • Ronald J. Peters, DrPH

  • Denise Stokes

2008: Our 25 Years: Honoring Yesterday, Celebrating Today, Creating Tomorrow

(The 2008 SC HIV/STD Conference) 

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Jeanne White-Ginder

  • Mark Dignan, PhD, MPH

  • John Santelli, MD, MPH

  • Hydeia Broadbent

​

*25th year of the SC conference on HIV/AIDS and other STDs

2009: Embracing Challenges, Embracing Change

(The 2009 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • David Reznik, DDS

  • JoAnne Keatley, MSW

  • Gustavo Aquino, MPH

  • Stephan Adelson

  • Archbishop Joyce Turner-Keller

2010: Stand Up for Progress: Exploring best practices, new perspectives and breakthroughs

(The 2010 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Laura Hanen, MPP

  • William (Bill) Smith, BA, PhD(c)

  • Mitchell Warren, BA

  • Kathie M. Hiers, BA

  • Vanessa Johnson, JD

2011: Reform, Transform, Perform: Maximizing Our Impact

(The 2011 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Christopher Bates

  • Frances Ashe-Goins

  • Bambi Gaddist and Deadra Lawson-Smith

  • Reverend Stacey Latimer

2012: Engaging Communities: Keys for Better Health

(The 2012 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Janet Cleveland

  • Bernard Owens

  • Cherie Hunter

  • Eric Rowles

  • Waheedah Shabazz-El

2013: Honoring 30 Years of Progress: Reflections on Successes and Challenges

(The 2013 SC HIV/STD Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center 

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Harold Jaffe, MD

  • Moises Agosto-Rosario

  • Jeanne White-Ginder

  • Hydeia Broadbent

​

*30th year of the SC conference on HIV/AIDS and other STDs.

2014: Enhancing Partnerships: Stronger Together

(The SC HIV/STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center 

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Ronald O. Valdiserri, MD, MPH

  • Mindy Fullilove, MD, MS

  • David Malebranche, MD, MPH

  • Adam Thompson

​

*The first year that viral hepatitis has been formally integrated into the conference’s name.

2015: getting to Zero: Progressive Strategies, Achieving Success

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Wayne Duffus, MD, PhD (Associate Director for Health Equity, CDC)

  • Michael Ray Murphree, MSW, LCSW (CEO Medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama)

  • Lisa Lindley, DrPH, MPH, CHES (Assoc. Professor, Global and Comm Health, George Mason U)

  • Martha Sichone-Cameron, MPH (Director of Policy and Advocacy Programs, Women’s Collective)

2016: Bridging the Gaps: New Opportunities, New Expectations

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Edwin Corbin-Gutierrez, MA (Manager, NASTAD)

  • Antoine Craigwell (President & CEO, Depressed Black Gay Men, Inc.)

  • Maria Davis (Advocate and Music Insider, Royal One Entertainment)

2017: Thriving Together For Tomorrow

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Anton Gunn, MSW, CDM (Diversity Officer, MUSC)

  • Pam Foster, MD, MPH (Assoc. Prof, Community and Rural Dept., University of Alabama)

  • Teo Drake (Transgender advocate)

  • Dazon Dixon Diallo, DHL, MPH (Founder and President of SisterLove, Inc.)

2018: 35 Years: At the Crossroads

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Linda Bell, MD (State Epidemiologist, SC DHEC)

  • Eric Brenner, MD (Medical Epidemiologist, CDC)

  • Murray Penner (Executive Director of NASTAD) CANCELLED

  • Divya Ahuja, MD (Division of Infectious Diseases, Palmetto Health)

  • Gloria Searson (Executive Director, Coalition on Positive Health Empowerment)

  • Joseph Williams, MSW, LGSW (Facebook Vlogger, “The Misunderstood Social Worker”)

2019: Strength in Numbers: Working Together

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Gail Bolan, MD (Director of STD Prevention, CDC)

  • Derek Spencer, MS, CNRP (Global Director of FOCUS, Gilead Science)

  • Gina Brown, MSW (Community Engagement Manager, Southern AIDS Coalition)

2020: 2020 Vision: Focusing on What Matters

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

​​

​​

2021: Innovation: Building Better Communities

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Marye E. Bernard, DNP, FNP-BC, AAHIVM, MD (Author, Asst. Professor, HIV Specialist)

  • Denise Stokes (Author, Advocate, Motivational Speaker)

  • Allison Ross Eckard, MD (Division Director, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, MUSC)

2022: Embrace Change: Remain Resilient

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​​​​

  • Ada D. Stewart, MD, FAAFP (Physician, Cooperative Health; first African American Female President of the American Academy of Family Physicians)

  • Dafina Ward, J.D. (Attorney; Executive Director, Southern AIDS Coalition)

  • Larry Walker (Author, Poet, Advocate)

2023: Celebrate Life! 40 Years of Making a Difference

(The SC HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Conference) - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

​KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

​​

  • Dafina Ward, J.D. (Attorney; Executive Director, Southern AIDS Coalition)

  • Adam Thompson (Health Systems Carpenter, Practice Facilitator)

  • Deondre B. Moore (Award-winning Human Rights Activist)

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