Latinos Salud’s healthcare providers answer some of the community’s most pressing concerns. This month, Latinos Salud’s provider in its Wilton Manors location, Guillermo Navarro, APRN, describes how a holistic approach by a gay healthcare provider often opens up new opportunities for your overall well-being.
OutClique: Whether people come to Latinos Salud to start on PrEP, get treated for HIV, or get screened for STDs, do you think it makes a difference that they know they are speaking with a gay healthcare provider?
Navarro, APRN: Absolutely. Many of our patients feel an immediate sense of comfort knowing they’re speaking with someone who genuinely understands their community and lived experiences. I can relate to why they’re here in a very real way because I’ve lived some of those same realities, faced similar challenges, and navigated the same healthcare spaces myself.
That shared background means they don’t have to spend time explaining their identity, lifestyle, or relationships. We’re already speaking the same “language,” both culturally and medically. I often notice a visible shift in their body language; they begin to relax as soon as they realize I’m one of them. That very connection builds trust quickly, and it’s that trust that allows us to address their health concerns more openly, effectively, and without judgment.
OutClique: Latinos Salud has a great reputation for making it easy to get started on PrEP, the pill or injection that prevents HIV. Can patients ask you about other health concerns as well?
Navarro, APRN: Of course! And we’re glad that most patients do feel safe to ask anything that concerns them. While PrEP is often the reason someone first walks through our doors, our approach is very holistic. We know that sexual health is connected to overall health, so we encourage patients to bring up anything on their mind whether it’s mental health concerns, vaccines, hormone therapy, nutrition, STI prevention, or even how to navigate the healthcare system.
Sometimes a conversation about starting PrEP opens the door to addressing chronic conditions, mental well-being, or preventive care they’ve been putting off. We want every visit to feel like a safe space to talk about the full picture of their health, not just one prescription.
OutClique: What are the most frequent non-PrEP-related concerns raised by PrEP patients?
Navarro, APRN: Beyond HIV prevention, we frequently discuss mental health—addressing stress, anxiety, depression, or the emotional impact of relationships. Some patients bring up concerns about erectile dysfunction, changes in libido, or discomfort from anal fissures, which they may have been too embarrassed to mention elsewhere.
Because they feel comfortable in our clinic, patients sometimes ask for relationship advice, whether it’s about navigating open relationships, rebuilding trust after an STI, or improving communication with their partner or sexual contacts.
The beauty of these conversations is that PrEP becomes the entry point to a safe, judgment-free space where patients can discuss deeply personal concerns. This not only helps address their immediate needs but also supports their long-term physical, emotional, and sexual health.
OutClique: During their initial PrEP visit, have any of your patients learned that they had other serious health issues that they did not know about, or issues that had been diagnosed, but that they did not know how to manage?
Navarro, APRN: Yes, and it’s often one of the most eye-opening parts of my job. During the initial PrEP process, we run lab tests to make sure it’s safe to start treatment, and sometimes those results reveal underlying health issues like high blood sugar, high blood pressure, hepatitis, or even advanced STIs that hadn’t shown obvious symptoms.
I’ve also had patients who had been told before that they had a condition but didn’t really understand what it meant or how to manage it. Those moments are powerful because they give us a chance to slow down, explain things in plain language, and create a plan together. We also connect them with specialists or resources so they don’t have to figure it out alone. Sometimes, that PrEP visit ends up being the turning point for their overall health.
OutClique: How would you describe your goal with each patient who comes to you?
Navarro, APRN: My goal is to create a safe, supportive environment where every patient feels heard, respected, and empowered to take charge of their health. That starts with meeting them where they are, no judgment, no assumptions. I want to make sure they fully understand their options, whether it’s for HIV prevention, treatment, or other health concerns, and that they leave our visit with clear next steps they feel confident about.
At the end of the day, I’m not just treating a lab result or writing a prescription; I’m building a relationship that can support them through different stages of their health journey. My hope is that they walk away knowing they have a partner in their care, someone they can come back to whenever they need advice, guidance or support.
Make an Appointment
It’s easy to get care at Latinos Salud—and you don’t have to be Latino to access services.Visit www.LatinosSalud.org and click the Appointments tab.
Content Courtesy of OutClique Staff
