As part of a days-long schedule of activities promoting PrEP awareness, the Health Department’s Division of HIV Health (DHH) recently recognized several Philadelphia healthcare professionals for excellence in HIV prevention.

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication regimen that can prevent the HIV virus from establishing permanent infections. HIV Prevention Pioneers were recognized for excellence in PrEP delivery and care after DHH put out a call for nominees earlier this year.

Healthcare professionals were nominated for starting or maintaining accessible quality services to vulnerable populations across a shifting landscape of resources. Categories included excellence in the delivery of oral PrEP, injectable PrEP, syndemic screening, primary care PrEP, and OBGYN PrEP.

Prevention Pioneers were chosen for their work’s impact, innovation, and replicability for others to utilize and build upon. Drag performers Mandy Mango, Lasha Cristal, and Dalyla Mizrani Cristal helped present the awards at DHH’s last quarterly Prevention Provider meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in Center City.

2025 Prevention Pioneers

Prevention Champion of the Year

Ashwin Gupta, PA-C, of Penn Presbyterian Community Practice

Injectable PrEP Pioneers

Hussein Safa, MD; Aviva Dalal, MD; Johanny Diaz, RN; Daria Christos, MPH; Deon Wilkie; and Christian Wilson, of the TelePrEP Team at Jefferson-Einstein IDC Practice

OBGYN PrEP Pioneer

Sarita Sonalkar, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania PEACE Clinic

Primary Care PrEP Pioneer

Katherine Huynh, PA-C, of Delaware Valley Community Health

Syndemic Screening Pioneers

Trisha Acri, MD, and Susan Snyder, CRNP, of Courage Medicine

Oral PrEP Pioneer

Pablo Souble, of Health Center 1

Congratulations to all the 2025 PrEP Pioneers.