Forty years ago, the idea that HIV would shift from a terminal illness to a chronic manageable disease was almost unthinkable. In recent years, another health crisis, COVID-19, much like HIV, was wrought with fear, stigma, and misinformation. In honor of World AIDS Day, we'll discuss key terminology, misconceptions, and advancements in HIV, including U=U undetectable equals untransmittable, the life-changing impact of current treatments and medical breakthroughs, and how science has prepared us with tools to navigate future pandemics. Joining us in this conversation is Michael Saag, MD, physician and prominent HIV/AIDS researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and author of Positive: One Doctor's Personal Encounters with Death, Life, and the US Healthcare System. This episode is dedicated to people living with and affected by HIV and those who lost their lives to AIDS.

<p>Forty years ago, the idea that HIV would shift from a terminal illness to a chronic manageable disease was almost unthinkable. In recent years, another health crisis, COVID-19, much like HIV, was wrought with fear, stigma, and misinformation. In honor of World AIDS Day, we'll discuss key terminology, misconceptions, and advancements in HIV, including U=U <a href="https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/spread-hiv-undetectable-viral-load" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/spread-hiv-undetectable-viral-load&source=gmail&ust=1698245069230000&usg=AOvVaw0sFMr7LQwUMMiVU5gjk0oz">undetectable equals untransmittable</a>, the life-changing impact of current treatments and medical breakthroughs, and how science has prepared us with tools to navigate future pandemics. Joining us in this conversation is <a href="https://providerdirectory.uabmedicine.org/provider/Michael+Saag/573181" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://providerdirectory.uabmedicine.org/provider/Michael%2BSaag/573181&source=gmail&ust=1698245069230000&usg=AOvVaw2aaykSPkOl_xV8i3k3VPL3">Michael Saag, MD</a>, physician and prominent HIV/AIDS researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Doctors-Personal-Encounters-Healthcare/dp/1626340641" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Doctors-Personal-Encounters-Healthcare/dp/1626340641&source=gmail&ust=1698245069230000&usg=AOvVaw3jGONUnB5rDk9OqLHKGdJw"><em>Positive: One Doctor's Personal Encounters with Death, Life, and the US Healthcare System</em></a>. This episode is dedicated to people living with and affected by <a href="https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-difference#1-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-difference%231-1&source=gmail&ust=1698245069230000&usg=AOvVaw26nP5Pc1cD4vthRqwvHYAG">HIV</a> and those who lost their lives to <a href="https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-difference#1-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-difference%231-2&source=gmail&ust=1698245069230000&usg=AOvVaw3M0RmmrnNvw2L1tmq-ZZvf">AIDS</a>.</p>

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.

Health Discovered

Forty years ago, the idea that HIV would shift from a terminal illness to a chronic manageable disease was almost unthinkable. In recent years, another health crisis, COVID-19, much like HIV, was wrought with fear, stigma, and misinformation. In honor...