Absalom H. Tilley, MD, and Leslie Ward, MD, represented Healthy Connections at the 2026 FOCUS Partner Summit, connecting with healthcare and public health partners around a shared goal: improving access to HIV and hepatitis screening and helping people connect with care.
Healthy Connections receives support through a Gilead FOCUS grant to promote HIV and hepatitis screening. The summit brought that local work into a national conversation about making screening a routine part of healthcare.
What Is the FOCUS Partner Summit?
The Gilead Sciences FOCUS program supports healthcare organizations in developing and sharing effective approaches to screening, diagnosis, and connecting patients with care for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
The FOCUS Partner Summit brings together partner organizations, clinicians, researchers, and public health leaders to exchange ideas and share practices that support this work. For Healthy Connections, participation offered an opportunity to learn from organizations working toward similar goals in other communities.
During the summit, Dr. Tilley and Dr. Ward were photographed with Liz Mallas Law, regional director for North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
Supporting HIV and Hepatitis Screening in Arkansas
The purpose of Healthy Connections’ FOCUS grant is to promote HIV and hepatitis screening. That work aligns with the organization’s broader commitment to accessible, compassionate healthcare throughout western and central Arkansas.
Healthy Connections offers confidential testing and care for HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted infections. Patients can speak with a healthcare provider about screening, ask questions, and discuss appropriate next steps.
Participation in the FOCUS Partner Summit reflects the importance of partnerships in supporting this work. Sharing knowledge across organizations helps keep attention on the people these efforts are intended to serve: patients who need access to screening and a connection to care.
Guided by Community, Compassion, and Excellence, Healthy Connections continues to support screening efforts as part of caring for the whole person.
Ask About Screening at Healthy Connections
You do not have to navigate questions about HIV or hepatitis screening alone. Healthy Connections provides a confidential setting to discuss your concerns and learn about available services.
Call 888-710-8220 to ask about screening or schedule an appointment. Visit our locations page to find a Healthy Connections clinic near you.
