Category: Getting2U

Getting2U is the podcast for healthcare professionals who help those at-risk for, or who are currently living with HIV, brought to you by the CT AIDS Education and Training Center at Yale University. Each episode touches on a hot topic talk among our hosts, followed by an in-depth discussion with a subject matter expert on today’s most relevant subjects.

Navigating and Addressing Implicit Bias (Part 2) (VIDEO)

Navigating and Addressing Implicit Bias (Part 2) (VIDEO)

Continuing the conversation from part one, Dante Gennaro and Peta-Gaye Tomlinson rejoin Amy Jin Johnson to explore practical methods for managing and disrupting implicit bias in clinical and daily environments. This episode delves into the crucial distinction between intent and impact, examining how genuine good intentions can still lead to negative consequences in care delivery. The team addresses whether implicit biases can truly be unlearned and outlines concrete strategies healthcare providers can use to recognize and counteract these automatic responses.

The discussion also offers valuable guidance for navigating difficult interpersonal dynamic, providing actionable advice for individuals who find themselves on the receiving end of someone else’s bias. Amy shares key insights on how to maintain control and advocate for oneself even when operating within fixed or challenging environments. Listeners will walk away with a deeper appreciation for how cognitive mechanics work and clear steps toward fostering more inclusive, empathetic HIV care.

If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

Navigating and Addressing Implicit Bias (Part 2)

Navigating and Addressing Implicit Bias (Part 2)

Continuing the conversation from part one, Dante Gennaro and Peta-Gaye Tomlinson rejoin Amy Jin Johnson to explore practical methods for managing and disrupting implicit bias in clinical and daily environments. This episode delves into the crucial distinction between intent and impact, examining how genuine good intentions can still lead to negative consequences in care delivery. The team addresses whether implicit biases can truly be unlearned and outlines concrete strategies healthcare providers can use to recognize and counteract these automatic responses.

The discussion also offers valuable guidance for navigating difficult interpersonal dynamic, providing actionable advice for individuals who find themselves on the receiving end of someone else’s bias. Amy shares key insights on how to maintain control and advocate for oneself even when operating within fixed or challenging environments. Listeners will walk away with a deeper appreciation for how cognitive mechanics work and clear steps toward fostering more inclusive, empathetic HIV care.

If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

Unpacking Implicit Bias (Part 1)

Unpacking Implicit Bias (Part 1)

In the first installment of this two-part series on Getting2U, hosts Dante Gennaro and Peta-Gaye Tomlinson take a deep dive into the concept of implicit bias and its significant role in HIV prevention, care, and treatment. They are joined by Amy Jin Johnson, Executive Director of Project Implicit, to demystify how these subconscious thoughts form, why everyone experiences them, and what drove her to pursue this critical field. Together, they unpack how the brain relies on cognitive shortcuts and examine the exact point where these automatic mental pathways transform into harmful real-world impacts.

This conversation moves beyond complex academic jargon to offer an accessible look at everyday psychology, tackling some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding human bias. The discussion explores whether these underlying assumptions can ever serve a practical purpose or if they require constant active management to keep in check. Healthcare professionals tuning in will gain a foundational understanding of their own mental patterns, setting the stage for actionable strategies in part two.

If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

Unpacking Implicit Bias (Part 1) (VIDEO)

Unpacking Implicit Bias (Part 1) (VIDEO)

In the first installment of this two-part series on Getting2U, hosts Dante Gennaro and Peta-Gaye Tomlinson take a deep dive into the concept of implicit bias and its significant role in HIV prevention, care, and treatment. They are joined by Amy Jin Johnson, Executive Director of Project Implicit, to demystify how these subconscious thoughts form, why everyone experiences them, and what drove her to pursue this critical field. Together, they unpack how the brain relies on cognitive shortcuts and examine the exact point where these automatic mental pathways transform into harmful real-world impacts.

This conversation moves beyond complex academic jargon to offer an accessible look at everyday psychology, tackling some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding human bias. The discussion explores whether these underlying assumptions can ever serve a practical purpose or if they require constant active management to keep in check. Healthcare professionals tuning in will gain a foundational understanding of their own mental patterns, setting the stage for actionable strategies in part two.

If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

Labels and the Community’s Perspectives

Labels and the Community’s Perspectives

Rejoining hosts Peta-Gaye Tomlinson and Dante Gennaro, guest Jordan Wynn returns to examine the profound power of terminology in HIV care and community spaces. The episode investigates how language choices, such as shifting from “HIV-positive” to “person living with HIV,” or replacing terms like “clean” with “negative”, fundamentally shape social perceptions and clinical interactions. The hosts and guest explore how labels operate within LGBTQ+ spaces, analyzing how terms like “undetectable,” “poz,” or “PrEP user” influence interpersonal relationships, dating dynamics, and community inclusion.

The dialogue balances the fine line between labels serving as empowering identity markers versus tools of reduction that simplify individuals down to a medical diagnosis. Furthermore, the episode highlights notable generational shifts, comparing how Gen Z, Millennials, and older adults navigate HIV-related vocabulary differently. Listeners will come away with a stronger commitment to person-first language and concrete strategies for reframing everyday clinical conversations to avoid harmful assumptions.

If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

HIV & Aging with Dr. Amy Justice (VIDEO)

HIV & Aging with Dr. Amy Justice (VIDEO)

On this episode of Getting2U, hosts Dante Gennaro and Peta-Gaye Tomlinson focus on HIV and aging. Joined by Dr. Amy Justice, C.N.H. Long Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health at Yale University, the discussion explores how HIV impacts the aging process, key medical concerns for older adults living with HIV, medication interactions, recommended screenings, and considerations for individuals diagnosed later in life.

If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

HIV & Aging with Dr. Amy Justice

HIV & Aging with Dr. Amy Justice

On this episode of Getting2U, hosts Dante Gennaro and Peta-Gaye Tomlinson focus on HIV and aging. Joined by Dr. Amy Justice, C.N.H. Long Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health at Yale University, the discussion explores how HIV impacts the aging process, key medical concerns for older adults living with HIV, medication interactions, recommended screenings, and considerations for individuals diagnosed later in life.

If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

Fears Around Getting Tested

Fears Around Getting Tested

In this episode, Dante Gennaro and Peta-Gaye Tomlinson sit down with Jordan Wynn to unpack the psychological, historical, and social barriers that prevent individuals from seeking HIV testing. The discussion explores the pervasive “fear of knowing,” examining why the anticipatory anxiety surrounding a potential positive result often proves more paralyzing than receiving the diagnosis itself. The conversation also delves into historical medical trauma, detailing how systemic mistrust within healthcare systems- particularly among BIPOC communities- continues to impede access to routine diagnostic care.

The episode tackles external fears, including worries about social rejection, community gossip, and discrimination following a positive result. Jordan emphasizes the importance of shifting the overall testing narrative away from fear and toward empowerment by illustrating what living with HIV actually looks like with modern care. Healthcare professionals will gain practical approaches for normalizing testing routines, leveraging pop-up events, and utilizing peer-led models to build safe, low-barrier entry points for care.

If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

HIV & Veterans with Dr. Theddeus Iheanacho

HIV & Veterans with Dr. Theddeus Iheanacho

In this episode of Getting2U, we take a closer look at HIV and Aging among Veterans, with a special focus on care within the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. Co-hosts Peta-Gaye Tomlinson and Dante Gennaro are joined by Dr. Theddeus “Dr. Ted” Iheanacho, Associate Professor Adjunct of Psychiatry at Yale University, who brings deep expertise in psychiatry and veteran health.
Together, they explore the prevalence of HIV among Veterans receiving VA services, the VA’s approach to routine HIV testing and PrEP, and how VA policies compare to Connecticut’s opt-out HIV testing guidelines. The conversation also addresses confidentiality, partner notification, follow-up after new diagnoses, and the critical role of wraparound services- such as housing, mental health care, and substance use treatment- in supporting Veterans to achieve and maintain viral suppression.
This episode highlights the unique challenges and opportunities in HIV prevention and care for aging Veterans, offering valuable insights for healthcare professionals working to improve outcomes across this population.
For more information, please visit www.va.gov/hiv.
If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.

HIV & Veterans with Dr. Theddeus Iheanacho

HIV & Veterans with Dr. Theddeus Iheanacho

In this episode of Getting2U, we take a closer look at HIV and Aging among Veterans, with a special focus on care within the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. Co-hosts Peta-Gaye Tomlinson and Dante Gennaro are joined by Dr. Theddeus “Dr. Ted” Iheanacho, Associate Professor Adjunct of Psychiatry at Yale University, who brings deep expertise in psychiatry and veteran health.
Together, they explore the prevalence of HIV among Veterans receiving VA services, the VA’s approach to routine HIV testing and PrEP, and how VA policies compare to Connecticut’s opt-out HIV testing guidelines. The conversation also addresses confidentiality, partner notification, follow-up after new diagnoses, and the critical role of wraparound services- such as housing, mental health care, and substance use treatment- in supporting Veterans to achieve and maintain viral suppression.
This episode highlights the unique challenges and opportunities in HIV prevention and care for aging Veterans, offering valuable insights for healthcare professionals working to improve outcomes across this population.
For more information, please visit www.va.gov/hiv.
If you have a topic you’d like us to discuss or want to share feedback, please email us at CTAETC@yale.edu.