Delivering HIV/AIDS advocacy in the heart of New York City

After a decade operating a Brooklyn wellness center, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation wanted to expand into an area of New York City that greatly needed HIV/AIDS prevention services.

One neighborhood, or "gayborhood" as it was described by Eddie Dillard, regional director for AHF's Public Health Division, stood out: Hell's Kitchen in the heart of Manhattan.

Stretching from 34th Street to 59th Street, or from 41st Street to the south, and bordered by 8th Avenue to the east and the Hudson River to the west, the once poor Irish working-class neighborhood has since gentrified and become one of New York City's top LGBTQ+ destinations. Theater actors have traditionally lived in the neighborhood, as well. Then there are the hordes of commuters from Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal passing through, along with the tourists staying in the local hotels, visiting the Broadway Theater district and local restaurants.

The busy Midtown area provided a prime location for AHF to expand its services.

"We opened the Hell's Kitchen wellness center last September, and it has already enrolled more than 1,000 people on PrEP," said Dillard in an interview last week with O'Donnell & Associates. "The community response has been very positive, especially because our hours are designed to be accessible."

Located at 315 W. 50th Street, AHF Hell's Kitchen offers two programs.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, the center offers full-service healthcare for PrEP patients, HIV patients and people seeking related primary care. Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., the center operates a wellness clinic that is STI- and PrEP-focused.

Jomil Luna, an AHF pharmacy sales representative, led OD&A on a tour of AHF Hell's Kitchen on May 6, highlighting its strategic location in Midtown Manhattan. "We're in the heart of the city, right near Times Square, Port Authority, and multiple train lines. People from New Jersey and the entire tristate area can easily access us," he said, entering the center after being buzzed in.

"When this site opened, we immediately saw a huge influx of people coming in for testing, learning about our services and referring friends. It's really been a case of, 'If you build it, they will come.' Now we're extremely busy — which is a good problem to have," said Luna standing in front of the reception desk across from the waiting area. A small corridor led to several offices and examination rooms in the rear. Luna, from his small office, explained how AHF Hell's Kitchen has been able to help expand the availability of services in the area.

"The Department of Health is a great partner," he said. "They usually close around 3 p.m. Our wellness clinic stays open until 8 p.m., so they often send patients to us after hours."

He also noted that AHF Hell's Kitchen takes walk-ins.

"Anyone can walk in and request PrEP," he explained. "If we don't have same-day capacity, we schedule them for the next day. People are really looking for that flexibility."

The center's priorities include STI screenings, PrEP services, HIV care and linkage to care.

"Linkage to care is the overarching goal — making sure people are connected to the services they need and stay connected," said Luna, 40, who has been HIV-positive for 20 years. He highlighted his work with the pharmacy team with pride.

"I'm not selling a drug — I'm selling a mission," he said. "When people use AHF Pharmacy, they're helping fund free healthcare, advocacy work and global emergency response efforts. When natural disasters happen — hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires — AHF can step in quickly and provide help. So, when I talk to patients, I explain that by choosing AHF Pharmacy, they're contributing to something much bigger than just filling a prescription."

From a local perspective, Luna said there was clearly a demand for AHF Hell's Kitchen, which will expand its pharmacy services once a second location opens a block away.

"It became clear that we needed a standalone pharmacy in the neighborhood," Dillard told OD&A when asked about the expansion. "Right now, patients can get a prescription from our provider and either pick it up at our Midtown pharmacy or have it delivered by courier. The new pharmacy will make the process much simpler and faster."

Dillard expects the pharmacy will open in time for Pride season this year. He stressed the value of same-day access to prescriptions, noting it removes delays while keeping people engaged in care. To make that engaged care more welcoming, the center has an "I Love NY" mural as the centerpiece of its waiting room, designed by Dillard and an artist collective from Queens.

"I wanted it to feel rooted in the neighborhood and the broader LGBTQ+ community. It includes references to Keith Haring, local subway details, and symbols that reflect inclusion and advocacy," said Dillard. "The idea was to make the space feel fun, community-centered, and inviting, while also creating something people would want to photograph and share."

Dillard, a former party promoter and host at several gay clubs and venues, has used his experience to coordinate with almost two dozen LGBTQ+ establishments in the neighborhood, which helped promote AHF's services. "Those connections have helped me bridge public health and nightlife in a way that feels authentic. We work with bars, clubs, and community venues because that is where people already are."

He noted how AHF Hell's Kitchen and its community partners are rolling out a "PrEP for Summer" campaign, running from Memorial Day through Labor Day. "The goal is to make prevention visible, approachable, and immediate," he said. "We're placing campaign materials in bar bathrooms with QR codes so people can quickly learn about services, including the message that no insurance is needed."

The campaign will promote an affordable medication offer of $40 for 90 pills, provide print materials and include talks and events at bars and clubs. Dillard said the campaign would be designed to make prevention "feel interactive rather than clinical." "The broader idea is simple," he said. "If we want to reach people, we have to get out of our offices and meet them where they are."

The Brooklyn-born and New Jersey-raised 47-year-old, who identifies as gay, is also HIV-negative and takes PrEP.

"Being on PrEP gives me a direct understanding of how prevention works in people's daily lives. It also helps me speak from experience when talking with patients and community members about access, adherence, and reducing stigma," he said. "PrEP has been transformative, but there is still a lot of work to do to make sure people understand it and can access it."