From Stigma to Support: A Conversation with Dr. Emma Kay

On this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Emma Kay, Associate Professor at UAB’s School of Nursing and someone who's doing incredible work at the intersection of HIV care, substance use, and harm reduction. She’s all about building real, lasting connections between healthcare providers and the people they serve—especially those facing stigma and barriers to care. From her roles at the UAB Center for AIDS Research and the Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention, Dr. Kay is helping shift how the medical world supports people with HIV and substance use disorders.

In our conversation, Dr. Kay breaks down what relational harm reduction really means—and how it can completely reshape healthcare. We talk about how her early experiences during an undergrad internship opened her eyes to the deep-rooted stigma around HIV, and how that pushed her toward work focused on empathy, trust, and patient-provider relationships. She shares how creating space for real, honest communication isn’t just ideal—it’s essential for better outcomes, especially for those often left out of the system.

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