Whitney A.N. Burton, MSW, MPH, CPH

Manager of Programs
STAR TRACK Adolescent Health Program,
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Whitney A.N. Burton

Whitney A.N. Burton believes in comprehensive sexual health programs so youths and young adults in Maryland can use services as needed. She said she’s committed to increasing access points for HIV prevention and care for traditional and nontraditional families.

“That means creating access points so all families can gain information about HIV prevention, testing opportunities and treatment innovations,” Burton said. “Traditionally, comprehensive programs limit engaging young people by only tapping traditional nuclear families or treating young people with sexually-transmitted infections independently of their families via family planning funding.

“STAR TRACK’s statewide initiative targets nontraditional households because we know (and the data shows) that HIV doesn’t impact families in a vacuum.”

Burton, manager of programs with STAR TRACK since November 2017, said she developed relationships with young people with HIV, gained insight into their needs and priorities, and developed client-centered engagement programming. “Since people are the experts on their lives, I believe it’s paramount to gain insight on their priorities for public health initiatives.”