Experts in the Community

AIDS Arms is incredibly excited to share that seven scientific studies written by 11 staff members were selected for presentation at the 2016 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment – August 23-26. Each individual is a leader in their field and embodies the heart of AIDS Arms' mission: improving the lives and health of those living with HIV and preventing its spread.

Program Evaluation Director Nicole Chisolm, MPH conducted a workshop entitled ‘Everybody Loves a Good Story: Using Digital Media to Capture & Share Patient Stories'. Nicole co-presented with colleagues from other cities participating in the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Special Projects of National Significance Homeless Initiative and the Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center at Boston University. This presentation, made to a completely full room, highlighted the processes involved in designing and creating podcasts and narrated photo stories, the experience of working with clients to develop stories, successes and challenges encountered, and strategies for disseminating digital media products.

Care Coordinators, Ben Callaway, LMSW, and Luis Moreno, BSW, conducted a workshop for more than 85 participants on ‘Retaining Multiply Diagnosed, Homeless HIV Positive Individuals in Medical Care, Behavioral Health, and Case Management’. They discussed challenges experienced by HIV positive individuals living with diagnoses of mental health and/or substance use disorders who are homeless or unstably housed. They articulated strategies to effectively engage clients with complex needs in medical care and treatment using case vignettes to promote an interactive exchange with the audience regarding solutions and best practices.

Martha Guerrero, Program Director, presented on AIDS Arms’ Viviendo Valiente program’s local need, as well as the multi-level strategies used by its Promotores de Salud to link and retain clients in HIV treatment. Specifically highlighted was Viviendo Valiente’s development and use of the “Transnationalism and Cultural Assessment Tool” developed to explore domains that could positively or negatively impact clients’ retention in HIV care.

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Here is the complete list of the different presentations and posters that have been selected for the 2016 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment conference:

Dr. Manisha Maskay - "Understanding and addressing the multiple dimensions of stigma to promote engagement in HIV care", "Leveraging resources to sustain programs for HIV care and housing for people living with HIV", & "Promoting Health Literacy through Clear Communication: Implications for People Living with HIV"

Dr. Manisha Maskay & Ben Callaway - "Optimizing HIV Health Outcomes: Integration of Mental Health Treatment into HIV Medical Care"

Ben Callaway, Miata Everett, Luis Moreno- "Retaining Multiply Diagnosed, Homeless HIV Positive Individuals in Medical Care Behavioral Health, and Case Management"

Luis Moreno - "Providing care to people who are homeless/unstably housed: Barriers and facilitators to achieving the NAS goals"

Nicole S. Chisolm - "Everybody Loves a Good Story: Using digital media to capture & share patient stories"

Martha Guerrero - "Transnational Practices and Linkage Care: Lessons from the SPNS Latino Access Initiative"

Dr. Jason Gillman, Dr. Gene Voskuhl, Dr. Gary Sinclair, Lauren Rogers, Jody Rogers - "Real World Hepatitis C Treatment Outcomes in Dallas, Texas"