NEW YORK—Here Media and HealthyWithHIV.com announced a new partnership that combines publishing, online and email promotions to encourage healthy living among people with HIV. The campaign began Sept. 15 and includes an online video series titled “Ask the Doctor,” featuring popular doctor, author and health expert Dr. Frank Spinelli (The Advocate Guide to Gay Men’s Health and Wellness).
In addition to “Ask the Doctor,” the campaign’s digital component consists of online content, which promotes HIV medication adherence and living a healthy lifestyle. The campaign also incorporates an online community forum with a specialized question-and-answer section addressing specific concerns about the disease, as well as weekly columns by Spinelli focusing on everything from drug tolerability to holistic care.
Spinelli’s “Ask the Doctor” video segment can be accessed through Advocate.com’s Health & Wellness channel. Each episode addresses current and relevant issues affecting the modern gay male. Subjects to be discussed include treatment options, finding proper support networks after diagnosis, locating a trustworthy healthcare provider, navigating the dating world as an HIV-positive male, fitness and supplements and more.
A promotional page will be featured in the November issue of The Advocate, and HealthyWithHIV.com will sponsor both The Advocate and sister publication Out magazine’s bi-weekly email newsletters. In addition, banner ads will run on Advocate.com, Out.com, HIVPlus.com and Gay.com. Capping off the digital campaign will be a virtual HIV/AIDS chat room, also hosted by Spinelli, on Advocate.com.
The HIV pandemic remains a paramount concern for the LGBT community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, annual HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) increased 26 percent from 2004 to 2007—11 percent more than the national average. HIV diagnoses among MSM increased all four years of the analysis, with the largest increase occurring in 2007.
“I am honored to be a part of a new initiative that helps to promote health and wellness for people living with HIV,” Spinelli said. “It is imperative that we are all fully aware of what steps can be taken in order to live our best, most dynamic lives, regardless of our HIV status. We hope to inform, enlighten and entertain our audience in a way that helps them achieve a balanced and healthy lifestyle.”
To view Spinelli’s “Ask the Doctor” video series, visit Advocate.com/askthedoctor. For more information about HIV awareness and medication adherence, visit HealthyWithHIV.com.
