Share

'AIDS in the rural west' is key topic on August 5

A panel of HIV/AIDS specialists will address the topic of AIDS in the rural western U.S. as part of a special symposium next weekend in Sun Valley, Idaho.

MEDIA ARE INVITED TO COVER:

Subject: "AIDS in the Intermountain West"
Date: Saturday, August 5
Time: 12:30-1:30 PM - Presentations by Panel of HIV/AIDS Specialists 1:30-2:30 PM - Press Availability with Specialists
Place: Sun Valley Convention Center (Continental Room)
2 Sun Valley Road
Sun Valley, Idaho

Most people think of AIDS as an urban disease, but HIV-positive individuals are being identified in increasing numbers in the rural west, according to symposium coordinator Meg Newman, MD, UCSF assistant professor of medicine and director of AIDS Education, UCSF Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center.

"A few HIV care providers with high-volume practices can be found in the rural west, but there are many more internists with only two to six patients with HIV/AIDS in their practices. As the number of these small pockets increases, it is important for providers to become more aware of screening for HIV infection and for patients to seek out adequate management of their disease," she said.

Titled "The Medical Management of AIDS: A Comprehensive Review of HIV Management," the symposium is co-sponsored by the Schools of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Utah.

Symposium co-chairs are Paul Volberding, MD, UCSF professor of medicine and director of the UCSF Positive Health Program, and Merle Sande, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah.

Participants in the panel presentations and press availability include:
--Harold W. Jaffe, MD, associate director for HIV/AIDS, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
--Kristen M. Ries, MD, professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Utah
--John Osborn, MD, chair, HIV/AIDS Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Spokane, Wash.
--Sarah Allen, RN, AIDS surveillance specialist, STD/AIDS Program, Bureau of Communicable Disease Prevention, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
--Dave Brader, person living with AIDS, St. George, Utah.

For more information, contact Corinna Kaarlela in the UCSF News Office at 415-476-3804. On August 5 at the Sun Valley Convention Center, contact Dr. Meg Newman.

Share

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.