2009 United States Conference on AIDS
Platinum Friday Series

Friday, October 30th * Platinum Symposium, Workshops, Plenary & Forum

7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.

Breakfast Symposium: Mental Health and HIV

Supported by Boehringer Ingelheim

Location: Grand Ballroom, Grand Ballroom Level

Mental health problems are very common in the general population, but people living with HIV are more likely to experience a range of mental health issues. Unfortunately, mental illness often goes undiagnosed in the HIV positive patient and therefore untreated. HIV also can directly infect the brain, causing impairment to memory and thinking. The goals of this educational symposium is to explain the high rate of psychiatric disorders in people living with HIV, distinguish between the symptoms of HIV infection and depression and explain the impact of HIV on the immune system. In addition, the presenter will discuss mental health screening tools that HIV care providers can utilize in order to connect people to care and treatment who may be suffering from mental illness.

8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Exclusive Seminar: Yes You Can! Carrying the HIV Message to the New Administration

Supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb

Location: Plaza A, Lobby Level

Level: Intermediate

In his first weeks in office, President Obama made it clear that healthcare reform would be one of the new administration’s highest priorities. And the announcement of the Act Against AIDS campaign and the revitalization of the Office of National AIDS Policy indicate that HIV will be given the attention it deserves. If there were ever a time to make your voice heard, it’s now. But how do you get your message across in the new administration? This seminar will provide an overview of the new administration’s healthcare reform plans and how they affect the HIV/AIDS landscape, and explore the possible impact on people living with HIV/AIDS. Expert lobbyists will offer insights on how to work with the new administration and congress on HIV advocacy issues, and participants will have the opportunity to engage in open discussion with the full panel of moderators.

10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Session 2 Workshop:  Case Management Optimization: A Web-Based Approach for Community Training and Information Sharing
Supported by Tibotec

Presented by: Paulette Heath, Senior Director, Professional Affairs, Tibotec Therapeutics

Veronica Barajas, Director, Information Technology, Tibotec Therapeutics

Location: Yosemite B, Ballroom Level

Track: Special Issues

Level: Beginner

This workshop will focus on significant challenges facing case managers and those delivering client services in the current resource-constrained care and treatment environment. Participants will be encouraged to discuss and debate personal and job-specific challenges in successful delivery in case management; needs and successful approaches to skills-building and core training materials and resources that are known to be available and are successful or need to be developed.  At the completion of the discussion, participants will have successfully identified specific resources that are broadly useful for Case Managers and can lead to optimization with respect to: Core training; Skills building; Support in position; Connectivity (including impressions on ease-of-use of websites and use of web-based resources that facilitate communication among and between case managers locally, regionally and nationally.) and Definitions of case management, including how to broadly and usefully define medical case management.

1:00 p.m. -  2:30 p.m.

Plenary Luncheon: New Frontiers in HIV: Issues for Today’s Leaders
Supported by Gilead

Location: Grand Ballroom, Grand Ballroom Level

In the HIV arena, healthcare providers, people living with HIV, their advocates and AIDS service providers make decisions based on constantly evolving, often complex information. This, in turn, often has to be rapidly assimilated into policy and practice. Community-based service providers are adept at reinventing themselves to respond to this ever-shifting epidemic. That’s why USCA is such an important opportunity to exchange information, share experiences and practice skills that will build capacity to address “what comes next.” This luncheon plenary will recognize community successes and explore trends in prevention, care and treatment that will inform education programs and services in the next few years.

5:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Reception and Treatment Forum -The Treatment Continuum For HIV: An Interactive, Case-Based Discussion
Supported by Merck

Please note: Hors d'œuvre and beverages will be provided.

Presenters:

Malcolm John, MD, MPH, Division of Infectious Diseases, Dept. of Medicine, Director, 360: The Positive Care Center at UCSF, University of California, San Francisco

C. Bradley Hare, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, UCSF, Medical Director, Positive Health Program, San Francisco General Hospital

Lisa C Capaldini, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

Location: Grand Ballroom, Grand Ballroom Level

It has been known for some time that certain minorities are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.  Despite increased awareness of this disparity and efforts to implement early HIV diagnosis as well as access to prevention and treatment services, African American and Hispanic communities continue to carry a heaver burden of the disease than other racial groups.

This interactive session will feature a panel of experts who will discuss the state-of-the-art in HIV management as well as address questions and concerns from the audience regarding prevention, testing, and treatment. You will not only hear about the latest data and what is on the horizon in the treatment paradigms, you will also be able to share your views on what works what could improve in clinical practice.  By the end of the session you will understand current and emerging treatment options and how to effectively advocate with your doctors and for your clients.