Promoting Human Immunodeficiency Virus Syndemic Care in Health Professions Education: Linking Workforce Demands to the Aspirations of a Rising Generation

Structural inequities contribute to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) syndemic that disproportionately impacts people of color and challenges the healthcare system. Advancing the concept of HIV syndemic care in health professions education provides an opportunity to attract the next generation of healthcare professionals to careers that will help grow the infectious diseases/HIV workforce to meet the demand for care and advance initiatives to end the syndemic. The intersection of HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and substance use disorder, also known as the HIV syndemic, reflects historical and structural inequities that exist within the United States. HIV, infectious diseases, and primary care workforce shortages challenge the healthcare system as HIV prevalence continues to rise. Current healthcare professional education could be strengthened by placing a greater focus on the integrative and holistic approaches to addressing the social and structural determinants of health that lie at the heart of HIV syndemic care, matching incoming students' orientation toward social justice with a fulfilling and impactful career path. Health professions education should incorporate HIV syndemic care education to improve patient care and attract more clinicians to the field of HIV and infectious diseases. Five recommendations are presented for leaders in health professions education, training, regulation, licensing, and public health to promote HIV syndemic care.