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2017 HIV and Aging Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Event Contact: JP Allen
Desert AIDS Project
(760) 898-0133
[email protected]

D.A.P. Contact: Tom Tarr
(760) 656-8464 direct
[email protected]

SAVE THE DATE: September 15, 2017
Local Organizations Present “Aging Positively”
A Free Conference Focusing On Seniors with HIV
on National HIV/AIDS & Aging Awareness Day

PALM SPRINGS, CA (August 21, 2017) – On Friday, September 15th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Mizell Senior Center. The day is also National HIV/AIDS & Aging Awareness Day.

The eight organizations are: Desert AIDS Project, The Clinton Foundation, Let’s Kick ASS, The Cathedral City Senior Center, The Joslyn Senior Center, The LGBT Community Center of the Desert, Jewish Family Service of the Desert and Mizell Senior Center.

“D.A.P. is proud and excited to collaborate with these dedicated organizations that provide comprehensive services to Coachella Valley’s aging population living with HIV/AIDS,” said Bruce Weiss, Director of Community Health at Desert AIDS Project. “We want to thank each of the conference speakers, committee members and the Mizell Senior Center who donated their time and effort to make this conference free of cost and open to everyone.” Weiss will serve as host and moderator for the event.

According to the Riverside County Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS, 2015 report: 28.8 percent of all people living with HIV in the Coachella Valley are 60 or older. From 2006 through 2015 over half of all HIV cases diagnosed in the Coachella Valley are among adults 45 years old or older. The average age of persons living with HIV in the Coachella Valley is 52.1 years, compared to 40.2 in the rest of the county.

The conference features four noted speakers who will each present a 20 minute program followed by a 10 minute Q&A. At noon a complimentary lunch will be served to all attendees.

“HIV and Aging: Risks and Resiliencies” presented by Jill Gover, Ph.D. Jill Gover is the Director of The Scott Hines Mental Health Clinic at The Center. She is a clinical psychologist, specializing in addiction, anxiety, depression, aging, and LGBT issues.

“Isolation of Older Americans” presented by Woody Bloch. Woody Bloch is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the Clinical Director at Jewish Family Service of the Desert. He also continues to provide counseling to children, adolescents, their families and adults and has done so for the last eleven years. Joining him is Judy Monetathchi, who is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Geriatric Case Manager at Jewish Family Service of the Desert. She currently counsels individuals and families, facilitates a women’s group on Healthy Relationships, and works with seniors on finding solutions to various needs they may have.

“Sexual Health and How to Talk to Your Provider” presented by Tulika Singh, MD., along with Eric Jannke, local HIV advocate. Dr. Singh is a Board Certified HIV Specialist, and an Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine Physician, working in HIV care since 2009. Prior to joining the Desert AIDS Project, she worked as a Primary Care and Infectious Disease Specialist at North Ottawa Community Hospital in Grand Haven, Michigan. Joining Dr. Singh on stage is Eric Jannke. He is an HIV advocate and serves in the leadership of Let’s Kick ASS (AIDS Survivor Syndrome) Palm Springs. He’s also a client volunteer for Desert AIDS Project.

“The Transition from Private Insurance to Medicare” presented by Roger Townsend. Roger Townsend, MD is a retired physician who has been a practicing anesthesiologist at the regional trauma center in Mission Viejo, CA. He retired to the Coachella Valley and has been a volunteer registered Medicare Counselor with HICAP for several years. Currently, Dr. Townsend regularly sees HICAP clients at the Palm Springs LGBT Center.

Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.) is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Palm Springs, CA offering D.A.P. TotalCare – a combination of medical, dental, counseling, social services, support groups, alternative therapies, in-house pharmacy and lab, and other health and wellness services. D.A.P.’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK, offers STD testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and free HIV and HCV testing. D.A.P.’s Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign, the nation’s first region-wide HIV testing and access to care initiative, was recognized by the White House for helping to bring about an AIDS-free future. D.A.P. is rated a “Top 20 HIV Charity” by About.com. Visit: www.desertaidsproject.org, www.thedockclinic.org, and www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org to learn more.