Talk by William Lodge, II (Public Policy, Cornell University)

This presentation delves into the intersectional and syndemic barriers affecting HIV care among transgender women and Hijras (TGW) in India. Drawing on findings from a multi-method study conducted in Mumbai and New Delhi, the talk illustrates how compounded multilevel barriers—including mental health conditions, intersecting forms of stigma, and economic marginalization—impede effective HIV care for TGW. Utilizing quantitative and qualitative insights, the presentation sheds light on how these challenges intersect and magnify each other, further hindering ART adherence and viral suppression. The presentation aims to contribute to a body of knowledge that informs policy and promotes a responsive and inclusive HIV care model tailored to TGW in India.

William Lodge II is an assistant professor at the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy and a National Institutes of Health (NIH) FIRST Faculty Fellow. A behavioral and social scientist, Dr. Lodge is dedicated to advancing health equity and improving HIV prevention and care among gender and sexual minorities in the U.S. and globally. Dr. Lodge’s research integrates syndemic theory and intersectionality to understand and address multilevel barriers in HIV prevention and care by focusing on how social and structural determinants—such as stigma and discriminatory policies—shape health outcomes, particularly emphasizing marginalized communities in India and the U.S.