MCPC Presents "The Normal Heart" and Post-Screening Guest Panel

Renewing our dedication to the mission of fostering an HIV-free Tennessee, we invite you to a special screening of a film that illustrates the reason our organization exists. Presented at the National Museum of African American Music's Roots Theatre and followed by a panel of esteemed guests recounting their own experiences during the beginnings of the pandemic.

Please come together as staff, volunteers and trusted partners to embolden ourselves and to continue to fight and bring and end to AIDS. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to delve into important conversations surrounding the film and its impact.

Following the screening, we'll host an illuminating discussion with four community leadersremarkable individuals who will share their personal experiences and insights about their organizations' responses to the AIDS pandemic:

• Dr. Stephen Raffanti - Founding Medical Director of Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC), one of the largest HIV treatment facilities in the southeastern United States. Dr. Raffanti has been a pioneering force in HIV/AIDS treatment and research for decades, implementing multidisciplinary approaches to patient care that have transformed outcomes for thousands.
• Reverend Edwin Sanders - Founder of the First Response Center (FRC), who has been a powerful advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness since the early 1980s, particularly within African American communities. His groundbreaking work has bridged the gap between faith communities and public health efforts during critical periods of the epidemic.
• Patrick Lee - Senior executive at Gilead Sciences, instrumental in the company's HIV treatment division and access initiatives. His work represents the vital intersection of pharmaceutical innovation and public health advocacy in the ongoing response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• Peter Kennard - A witness to the early AIDS crisis in New York City and a former employee at iconic establishments including Studio 54. Mr. Kennard provides crucial firsthand accounts of both the vibrant cultural scene that was devastated by the AIDS epidemic and the grassroots activism that emerged in response.

Together, this panel represents decades of medical expertise, community outreach, pharmaceutical innovation, and lived experience—offering a comprehensive perspective on how different sectors of society responded to one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.

Host or Publisher Music City PrEP Clinic