Positive Message from a Pornographic Film

By Alexa Mieses

The New York Times reported today that a South African producer recently made the country's first all-black pornographic film. More than just the first all-black film, the film features a message about safe sex practices as the film's stars were not only tested for HIV but used condoms on screen. The New York Times also said that this film not only answers South Africans' complaints that all adult entertainment comes from the US or Europe, but it also encourages condom use in a country where a negative attitude about condoms still remains.

Despite the industry's adherence to regular HIV testing, the virus is still able to spread among the industry's performers. In 2004, an American male adult entertainment performer transmitted the HIV virus to three female performers. In October 2010, another performer tested positive for HIV, causing Vivid Entertainment, a popular adult entertainment company, to halt production. Read more here. Perhaps the use of condoms in pornographic films in the US would not only help protect the performers, as testing is not 100% sufficient to cease transmission of HIV, but it would also encourage viewers to engage in safer sexual practices.

MAPS Mentor Feature: Dr. Lynne Holden, MD

By Alexa Mieses

In 2009, Dr. Lynne Holden was the recipient of the Bynoe-Thomas Memorial Award at the first annual Harlem, Take Care of Yourself Health Fair. MAPS members consider her a role model and we are not the only ones who think so. Dr. Holden was born in Philadelphia and later attended Howard University for her course of undergraduate study. She returned to Philadelphia and graduated from Temple University School of Medicine, before becoming a New York resident and physician in the Bronx. Dr. Holden is an attending physician of emergency medicine at Montefiore Hospital, associate professor of clinical emergency medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, and is the founding president of Mentoring in Medicine (MIM).

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MIM is a non-profit organization that links students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as early as in third grade, with health care professionals across all fields. Visit MIM for more information. In addition to networking events, MIM provides MCAT and professional school application preparation, a clinical exposure program for pre-health students, and hosts the annual "Yes, I Can Be a Healthcare Professional," Conference in New York City. The 2010 conference will take place at Frederick Douglas Academy in December. More information to come soon!

Dr. Lynne Holden is not just a mentor to MAPS members she is an amazing physician, teacher and woman! Check out what the New York Times, the Lifetime Network, and Albert Einstein COM had to say!

Dr. Holden receiving the Bynoe-Thomas Memorial Award at the MAPS health fair in 2009

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is breast cancer awareness month so show you care, blogosphere!