HIV and viral hepatitis in dentistry - Building knowledge and breaking stigma

Dr Belgaumkar has been a GP in South-East London for 13 years.  She has a keen interest in women’s health, sexual health and reducing health inequalities. In 2024 she became a South East London HIV GP Champion for the Fast Track Cities Initiative London and a Hepatitis C GP champion for the National Hepatitis C Elimination Programme. More recently, she is continuing her work as GP HIV Clinical Lead in Bromley. Through these roles Dr Belgaumkar leads on initiatives to increase blood borne virus testing in primary care, deliver education to health care professionals and communities, to build knowledge, break stigma, and improve quality of life for people living with these conditions.

Dr Bottoni is a General Practitioner who has been living and working in South East London for the past 10 years. She works as both an HIV and Hepatitis C Champion, initially appointed in 2019 through a partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation and now continuing this work with Lewisham Council and the NHS Hepatitis C elimination programme. In these roles, she supports efforts to increase testing in primary care, re-engage patients who are out of care, educate healthcare professionals, and reduce stigma around both conditions.

Professor Brown is a Consultant Hepatologist and Professor of Practice at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and has worked at St Marys Hospital, Paddington for nearly 25 years.  He has a major research interest in viral hepatitis acting as Principal Investigator in over 50 clinical trials of new drugs for HBV and HCV. He is the Clinical Lead for West London, and National Clinical Lead for the NHS England Viral Hepatitis Elimination Programme, developing and delivering new models of care to ensure equity of access to life-saving treatments for some of the most marginalised groups within our community.

Susan, the Executive Director of Phoenix Health Movement, is an award-winning public speaker, broadcaster and writer, dedicated to addressing health inequities affecting people from marginalised communities.

Starting her cross-sector career as a research psychologist, with time in the corporate arena, she moved on to have over two decades of leadership in the HIV sector, spearheading initiatives with national and global impact.

She is a Board Member of the Global Network of People Living with HIV, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, invited for her work in promoting HIV equity.

Tony has worked extensively across community drug treatment services and prisons, is a keen harm reductionist, and raising awareness of hepatitis C has always been a personal and professional passion for him.  Tony is currently the high intensity engagement and training coordinator for Hep C U Later, an NHS initiative supporting the elimination of hepatitis C in England.