Using Public Health Data to Drive Equitable HIV and Syphilis Care
Photo 1: Starting the day at Elysian Fields CrescentCare in St. Roch before a morning of community outreach.
Introduction
Changemaker Catalyst Award recipient, Benjamin Freeman, a Master of Public Health student, partnered with the STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program (SHHP) at the Louisiana Department of Public Health for his Applied Practice Experience. He focused on analyzing HIV and syphilis surveillance data to uncover disparities in care and risk factors for repeat infections, while also assisting with community-based HIV surveillance at CrescentCare in New Orleans.
My Role and Day-to-Day at SHHP
My main role at SHHP centered on data management and analysis of HIV and syphilis surveillance data. The goal of my experience was to examine regional disparities in HIV linkage to care and identify risk factors associated with multiple syphilis diagnoses. Through this work, I contributed to SHHP’s mission to provide high-quality, equitable care and to inform resource allocation and research priorities in Louisiana.
I worked closely with Dr. Wendell and other SHHP staff to complete my projects. My activities included reviewing historical HIV and syphilis data, managing and cleaning de-identified datasets, creating statistical models, and developing data briefings for stakeholders. Specifically, I examined linkage-to-care outcomes across Louisiana’s health regions and built a logistic regression model to predict factors associated with repeat syphilis diagnoses among men. All work was done using SAS software, and data was strictly protected to maintain confidentiality. Collaborating with Dr. Wendell and the SHHP team was critical in guiding the analysis and ensuring that the results were meaningful for public health decision-making.
Photo 2: Setting up for community-based data collection and HIV surveillance efforts.
Excitement and Challenges
One of the most exciting aspects of my APE was seeing how data analysis can directly inform public health interventions. Translating complex datasets into visualizations and briefings that could guide SHHP in identifying areas for resource allocation and populations at higher risk was incredibly rewarding.
At the same time, the work came with challenges. I initially struggled with structuring SAS code, managing large datasets, and deciding how to categorize variables for analysis. Presenting complex findings in a clear, actionable way for non-statistical stakeholders also required careful planning. I overcame these challenges by mapping out analysis steps, consulting with Dr. Wendell, and utilizing SAS resources to build robust and interpretable models.
My most significant technical growth came in enhancing my data management and analysis skills, particularly manipulating variables, recoding data, and performing logistic regression. These skills allowed me to create meaningful analyses and visualizations that supported SHHP in understanding health disparities and identifying potential intervention points. I also improved my ability to communicate findings clearly, ensuring that technical results could be understood and applied by public health stakeholders.
Driving Social Change Through Data
This experience was deeply connected to positive social change and social innovation. Through my analyses of disparities in HIV linkage to care and repeat syphilis diagnoses, I provided SHHP with actionable insights that could directly shape public health programs. These findings highlighted regions and populations where interventions would have the greatest impact, helping ensure that resources reached those in greatest need. In doing so, my work reflected the Taylor Center’s principles of social innovation—using skills, expertise, and collaboration to tackle systemic challenges.
Beyond the data, I supported frontline HIV surveillance efforts. At CrescentCare in New Orleans, I assisted with testing initiatives and community surveys aimed at understanding the needs of people living with HIV and populations at higher risk. This dual perspective—working with both statewide data and community-level engagement—helped me see how research and practice come together to create more equitable outcomes and promote meaningful social change.
Photo 3: Managing and analyzing HIV and syphilis surveillance data at SHHP offices.
Key Takeaways
The most important lesson I carried from this experience is that public health data analysis is both a technical and a human tool. I strengthened my ability to manage datasets, build statistical models, and communicate findings in a way program planners could act on. At CrescentCare, I learned how valuable it is to pair data analysis with community engagement—collecting information directly from people living with HIV and those at higher risk reminded me that numbers are never just numbers; they represent lives and stories.
Working with de-identified surveillance data reinforced the ethical responsibility that comes with handling sensitive information, while community-based data collection emphasized the trust required to gather it. Taken together, these lessons taught me to balance statistical rigor with compassion and clarity, ensuring that my work can be both scientifically sound and deeply meaningful.
Professionally, this experience shaped the way I see my future in public health. It showed me that my role is not just to analyze data but to translate it into actionable insights that respect the dignity of the communities represented. This perspective will guide me as I pursue a career focused on evidence-based programs that address disparities and create equitable health outcomes.
Conclusion
My Applied Practice Experience with SHHP was transformative. Through hands-on work with confidential public health data, I gained technical skills, learned to communicate findings effectively, and contributed to meaningful analyses that guide resource allocation and public health research in Louisiana. This experience reinforced the connection between rigorous data analysis and positive social impact, preparing me to be a more effective and ethically responsible public health professional.