The Center in partnership with the Southern Nevada Health District, Southern Nevada Community Health Center, and Fast Track Nevada invite all to join us in commemoration of Worlds AIDS Day on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Enjoy speakers from leading healthcare partners on U=U messaging, breast/chest feeding, and its associated stigma. Also hear from local community members on their passion and purpose for HIV advocacy.
Schedule of Events
10AM – 1PM: Vendor Fair
12PM – 1PM: FREE Lunch
1:30PM – 3PM: Speakers
To register for this free event, please visit tinyurl.com/thecenter-world-aids-day.
We are also looking for vendors to participate in the vendor fair from 10am – 1pm. Vendors can register at: tinyurl.com/worldAIDSday-vendor.
Speakers
Fermin Leguen, MD, MPH
District Health Officer, Southern Nevada Health District
Dr. Fermin Leguen was appointed the District Health Officer at the Southern Nevada Health District in January 2021, after serving as the Acting Chief Health Officer since October 2019. Prior to joining the Southern Nevada Health District in 2016, he served as Medical Executive Director at the Florida Department of Health in Pasco and Hernando Counties. Before that, he served as the Chief Medical Officer for Doctor’s Medical Centers, Inc., in Miami, Florida, Medical Executive Director and Epidemiology Director for the Miami-Dade County Health Department and was a primary care physician in Miami. Dr. Leguen has been consultant for the WHO/PAHO Immunization Program in Jamaica, and Peru. He received his MD from Havana University in Cuba, and completed his General Preventive Medicine Residency and MPH at Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Lealah Pollock
Dr. Lealah Pollock is a family doctor who specializes in primary and specialty care for women living with HIV throughout their lives, including during pregnancy and the postpartum period. She also has a special interest in sexual and reproductive health and care for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.
Ciarra (Ci Ci) Covin
Ciarra Covin is both professionally and personally committed to advancing the dialogue around HIV and breastfeeding – as a woman living with HIV, she was able to advocate for support from her providers to breastfeed her youngest child which she did for seven months. Her extensive efforts in the field include presenting Breastfeeding and HIV in the Era of U=U: Research, Policy, and Lived Experiences (US Conference on AIDS 2019).
John Waldron
Chief Executive Officer at LGBTQ Community Center of Southern Nevada
John Waldron, Ed.D, spent 25 years in newspaper advertising operations with Stephens Media, LLC. in advertising operations before joining the nonprofit sector. John is founder of LEAP, a leadership development program that helps individuals find greater purpose as leaders. He worked in organizational and leadership development with Opportunity Village and Boyd Gaming prior to becoming CEO of The Center. John has worked with local organizations to raise funds and provide school supplies for local elementary students in at-risk communities, served as a mentor to junior and senior students at UNLV, worked with students in both private and public schools in Las Vegas facilitating events helping prepare students to succeed as leaders, and has served as an official for the Nevada State Spelling Bee since 2008. He holds degrees in social sciences, organizational management, and a doctorate in leadership. In addition to his position with The Center, John serves as president of the board of directors for CARE Coalition, a board member of Nevada School of the Arts, a member of the board of trustees for the FBI’s Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association, and board member for the Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits,. Has has served as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Nevada Association of School Administrators, the Clark County School Districts antiracism policy committee, and other community advisory and committee roles. John is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Army.
Maria Montes
Maria Montes was born in Guadalajara, Mexico but Nevada is her home sweet home. She has been here 35 years and for her it is a true Privilege to live in The Battle Born State! She has three most valued accomplishments which includes: 1) being sober for almost 8 years, 2) being a mother of 6 strong amazing children, and 3) finding her passion and purpose in life which is doing what she can to educate, empower, and help others with HIV.
