Dear Reader:

 

Today, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day. Clinics and health concerns across the country will be providing free screenings so that you will know your HIV status. “This is the only way you can take care of yourself and your partner(s)”, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care and that some people with risk factors get tested more often.

 

I spoke with Dr. Rachael Ross, a family doctor and sexologist who is particularly concerned about the precipitous rise in HIV/AIDS in the Black community. Dr. Ross is serving as a spokesperson for OraQuick, an FDA approved home test kit that offers confidential results in as little as 20 minutes.

 

Dr. Ross shared these alarming statistics with me: According to the CDC,

 

• African American men are more likely than any other group to be diagnosed with HIV
• The rate of new infections among African American men is the highest of any group by race or sex
• More new infections occurred among young African American gay and bisexual men aged 13-24 than any other subgroup of gay and bisexual men

 

But this is not an all Black male dilemma; the data for Black women are daunting too.

 

• African American women are far more affected by HIV than women of other races or ethnicities
• The rate of new HIV infections among African American women was 20 times that of white women and 5 times that of Hispanic women in 2010
• Most Black women are infected with HIV through heterosexual sex

 

In Milwaukee, free testing is being offered today at Milwaukee Health Services 2555 N MLK Drive from 10 am until 4 pm. Get full details. If you miss this opportunity you can ask your doctor for a test, check National HIV and STD Testing Resources for testing sites, call 1-800-CDC-INFO, or text your ZIP code to "KNOW IT" (566948). Health insurance usually covers the test, and some sites offer free testing.

 

Eric Von

 

 

About Dr. Rachael Ross

As a family doctor and a sexologist, Dr. Rachael Ross has been heralded as “The next Dr. Ruth, the nationally renowned sexual therapist who pioneered frank sex talk.” Chicago Tribune.

Energetic, beautiful and a no-holds-barred speaker, Dr. Rachael is captivating audiences across the U.S. on television, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and through numerous publications. A pioneer of ground breaking discussions about relationships, sex, health, abstinence & comprehensive sex education for teenagers, and most importantly HIV/AIDS prevention there’s no question that Dr. Rachael “Knows Sex!” and anything else she chooses to speak about.

Dr. Rachael achieved her M.D. from Meharry Medical College where she graduated with her sister Dr. Rebekkah Ross, her B.A. from Vanderbilt University where she studied anthropology, and her Ph.D. from the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists.

Dr. Rachael practices medicine in her hometown of Gary, IN where she joins her father Dr. David, her brother Dr. Nathaniel Ross, and her mother/office manager Ruthie Ross in successfully developing a family medical clinic vision. This vision included Dr. Rachael’s BFF, business partner and sister, Dr. Rebekkah Ross who recently passed away from complications related to sickle cell anemia, however is fondly and daily memorialized by her family of physicians who loved her so very much. Dr. Rebekkah spiritually continues to motivate the family and most of all Dr. Rachael in all of her many endeavors.

Dr. Rachael was honored to receive Northwest Indiana’s 2012 prestigious Athena International Service Award for the work that she and her sister Dr. Rebekkah started together eight years ago to mentor the girls in their hometown of Gary, IN. She always says ‘since I’ve been given a lot, it’s my duty to give back a lot.’ The duo’s philanthropy was honored in early 2013 by the National Council of Negro Women.

Countless successful endeavors have gained Dr. Rachael an incredibly diverse following that is growing with viral success. To date Dr. Rachael tours college campuses to speak, is quoted frequently in Cosmopolitan and Self Magazine, contributes to several medical publications, is a regularly featured guest on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, Chicago’s WCIU Television ‘You & Me This Morning’ and ‘The Doctors’. In celebration of Dr. Rachael’s viewer success Dr. Rachael had a titled segment “Ask Dr. Ross” -full of medical questions from diverse viewers who enjoy Dr. Rachael’s light and entertaining medical advice presented with a sexy boldness that everyone across the country is talking about.

Dr. Rachael’s first book titled “Down Right Feel Right – Outercourse: For Her & For Him” is becoming a must read for married and single viewers everywhere. Dr. Rachael lives in Chicago, IL and in her free time refurbishes furniture, dabbles in interior design, maintains her medical practice in Gary, IN and commutes.

 

FREE HIV testing in observance of National HIV Testing Day, Friday, June 27th 10am -  4pm. Get full details. See all events on our Healthy Happenings page.

More health information is available at Brain Brawn & Body and find out about other healthy events on Healthy Happenings. 

I invite you to read, learn, enjoy!

 

Eric Von

Publisher/Editor

P.O. Box 761, Milwaukee, WI 53201

www.brainbrawnbody.com