Ken Ho, MD, MPH, AIDS Free Pittsburgh co-chair, medical director of the Pitt Men's Study, and Jewish Healthcare Foundation Board member speaks at the AFP 10-year anniversary event.
This month, AIDS Free Pittsburgh (AFP) marked a significant milestone: 10 years of collective action, community partnership, and measurable progress toward ending the HIV epidemic in Allegheny County. To commemorate this decade of impact, AFP celebrated with partners, supporters, and community members at A Journey of Remembrance – 10 Years of AIDS Free Pittsburgh on Saturday, December 6 at the Union Project in Highland Park.
Launched on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2015, AFP set a bold goal: eliminate new AIDS cases and cut new HIV infections by 75% in the county by 2030. The effort was seeded by Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and UPMC and is managed by JHF. Over the past decade, AFP has operated as a convening force, bringing together government agencies, health systems, community organizations, and local businesses to normalize routine HIV testing, expand access to prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and speed linkage to treatment.
JHF staff gathers to celebrate AIDS Free Pittsburgh's 10-year anniversary.
The results show meaningful progress toward the 2030 goal. New HIV diagnoses in Allegheny County fell 52% between 2015 and 2023. Testing and PrEP uptake have risen while the share of people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy has increased. Local innovations developed with community partners, including a Care Options Guide and the RAPID program that helps newly diagnosed individuals start treatment immediately, have shortened delays in care and improved outcomes.
"AIDS Free Pittsburgh built a trusted network of community-based organizations, clinical providers, researchers, leaders, and community members devoted to supporting and serving people living with HIV. One of the many accomplishments of AFP included educating community and providing people living with HIV or at risk of HIV tools to navigate a complex system so they can receive vital care. Since 2015, we've seen a significant downtrend in new HIV cases and I like to think that AIDS Free Pittsburgh played a role in that,” said Ken Ho, MD, MPH, AFP co-chair, medical director of the Pitt Men's Study, and JHF Board member.
AFP’s collaborative work rests on relationships. In 10 years, the initiative has worked with more than 40 partner organizations and countless community members to develop resources like the PrEP Access Toolkit and to drive outreach that reduces stigma and makes prevention practical. Those partnerships reflect a wider history: JHF has managed HIV-focused programs in southwestern Pennsylvania since 1992 and was later selected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to administer state and federal HIV/AIDS funding in the region. On a regional level, JHF continues to evaluate grants, provide education, and advocate for policies that strengthen the continuum of HIV care.
“A Journey of Remembrance” featured community voices, recognition of critical partners, presentations on regional data trends, and awards honoring local leaders in prevention and care. Attendees heard personal stories and celebrated advances in HIV prevention and care that make long, healthy lives possible.
As AFP marked this milestone, the focus remained on sustaining progress and expanding equitable prevention and care. Both major regional health systems have pledged continued support for the next year.
