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D.A.P. tests new treatment for drug-resi …

by Desert AIDS
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Desert AIDS Project is studying a new treatment for a very pervasive sexually-transmitted infection (STI) that’s now become drug-resistant.

Under the direction of Dr. Steven Scheibel, D.A.P. is studying the efficacy, safety, and side effects of a drug that combats Nesseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that causes gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea is the second most common STI and a major source of morbidity worldwide. Without treatment, it can cause infertility, cervicitis, proctitis, urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pharyngitis. Babies grow outside the womb in some women and the infection makes both genders more susceptible to HIV, according to GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of the study. They go on to say:

“The ability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to develop resistance to antimicrobials has complicated the management of the disease, leading to an urgent need for new treatment options.”

D.A.P. is one of eight medical centers testing the new drug, called GSK2140944. The study invites 60 adults with gonorrhea infection to take a single dose of either 1,500-mg or 3,000-mg of GSK2140944. The study wants to know if the smaller or the larger dose works best. The study last about a week with two scheduled visits. On the first visit, doctors will dispense the drug and gather baseline information from the study subject. A follow-up visit, called the Test-of-Cure visit, occurs between day 4 and 8 and determines the subject’s response to the drug. That includes success, failure, and adverse effects. Although there are two scheduled visits, bad reactions to the new drug will be monitored until they are resolved.

So far, D.A.P. has enrolled three subjects in the study, to meet the six-subject goal for each site. Our clinical administrators are working on identifying additional subjects. “Right now, though, we have more subjects than any other site and we’ve enrolled them quickly,” says Rod Hagan, D.A.P.’s Clinical Research Coordinator. D.A.P. began accepting subjects about six weeks ago, while other sites have been at it since January. “We have a concentration of people in the Coachella Valley, who need support in fighting gonorrhea infection, so our services have to be cutting edge and we must be fast out of the blocks,” Dr. Scheibel states.

Although the name of the drug sounds like a chemical weapon from an action hero comic strip, the problem and the need for an immediate answer is very real.

According to the study protocol, a variety of antimicrobial agents have been used over the years for the treatment of gonorrhea. Effective treatment options for gonorrhea have diminished rapidly because of the emergence and worldwide spread of antimicrobial resistance to many drugs previously used or considered the first line. The study goes on to list six drugs that patients are taking to almost no effect.

“Azithromycin was the big tah-dah,” Rod says. “But N. gonorrhoeae has become resistant to it and there’s nothing else in the pipeline. Without a new treatment, it could be like it was at the turn of the century again and it could be fatal.”

D.A.P. is trying to keep that from happening. We’re participating in this study and several other clinical trials that aim to improve the lives of patients and clients living with HIV. The search for a new antimicrobial is one of five that D.A.P. has conducted in the past 12 months. Those studies include Medication Therapy Management, a study on HIV, aging, and the brain, a study that searches for a milder antiretroviral that we’ve called Switch, and a new treatment for anal dysplasia. These studies represent a new function we’ll perform for the HIV community here and abroad. Beyond those in disadvantaged communities in the Coachella Valley, many others — nationally and globally — will benefit from our findings.

“Our search for a new treatment for this drug-resistant strain of gonorrhea is one of the most important things we can do,” Dr. Scheibel says. “We have to get out in front of this challenge because it threatens us locally and globally.”

 

In the Coachella Valley… “throw a ro …

by Desert AIDS

That’s how clients of Desert AIDS Project describe the prevalence of crystal methamphetamine –commonly referred to as meth, crystal, Tina, ice, or glass, among other street names – in the Coachella Valley. Just as crystal meth has become a social problem on a global scale, our clients insist it plagues many of the people D.A.P. seek to provide medical care and social services.

Ray Robertson, Client Wellness Services Center Manager, knows this all too well. He was already a certified recovery counselor with about 20 years of experience leading a local, residential treatment facility before coming to D.A.P. more than five years ago. Having earned 29 years of sobriety himself, Ray sensed that addiction is an issue among many of our patients and clients living with HIV, who need a way back to a safer, saner life.

So he established the “Crystal Meth Action Team,” which held its first meeting this summer. Ray knew that D.A.P. had previously organized the “Crystal Meth Task Force” some years ago, to take on its use valley-wide. However, the task force dissolved in part because its mission was too broad and because it actually scared off some of the people it wanted to attract. When people encountered the Crystal Meth Task Force at the popular Thursday evening street fair in downtown Palm Springs, they thought they were being targeted by the police.

“We’re not going to ferret out users and bring them to judgment day,” Ray told team members at an initial brainstorming session. “What we’re going to be doing is opening doors to recovery.”

The Action Team’s primary goal is to develop strategies for creating a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where clients will feel welcomed and safe in sharing. No matter whether they use crystal meth themselves or have someone in their life who does, the Action Team members want to see that clients receive the help they ask for … whether that is simply more information, a chance to talk with someone who understands, or to actively engage in care. At the first gathering, members shared their experiences with meth and other substance use. Some are in recovery while others haven’t “used” but have watched friends and loved ones wrestle with substance abuse challenges.

Team members also discussed why they joined and what they believe should be done for those in the grips of this powerful habit. Many spoke from experience:

“I got HIV from sharing a needle I used to shoot crystal.”

“When you’re ‘slamming’ meth, it takes over and you forget everything else.”

“When you use meth, there are three possible endings: dead, in jail, or in recovery.”

Be they former drug abusers or “normies,” who’ve never used, team members agreed that users must be offered an avenue to recovery that’s safe, humane, and free from judgment or stigma. During the first meeting of the Crystal Meth Action Team, Ray diagrammed this concept for how recovery might begin to happen:

“Let’s open a corridor to doors – and behind each door is yet another recovery option.
Let’s make it comfortable for anyone to open those doors without fear of repercussions.”

The diagram resembled a pathway leading north with several roads intersecting it along the way. Ray labeled each of those connectors as team members suggested services: a helpline; education, outreach, and mentoring; referrals to 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous; safe social connections; strategies to break the connection between sex and meth; housing options during recovery; and literature describing meth’s effect on the body, particularly when HIV-positive. Several team members were enthusiastic about the books “Chasing the Scream” and “Overcoming Crystal Meth Addiction,” the latter showing what the drug does to brain chemistry and physiology.

Team members are, understandably, concerned because of the unfortunately all-too-common link between meth and HIV. The New England Journal of Medicine calls meth an extremely strong stimulant that provides an escape from stress, depression, alienation, and loneliness. It increases sexual arousal while reducing inhibition and judgment. The drug often crosses paths with people who are under tremendous emotional duress because of their illness. Throw in homophobia and stigma attached to HIV, and you have a perfect storm touching down in the Coachella Valley.

Medical trials suggest that people living with HIV who are also using meth often have lapses in their antiretroviral treatment, which might make their infection drug resistant. It can also rearrange the brain chemistry causing psychosis and depression so that users cannot feel good without pharmaceutical help. “People struggling with addiction are in emotional pain and the remedy they turn to is as harmful as it is habit-forming,” Ray says. “As holistic healthcare providers, we want to address all parts of what is causing pain for our clients and patients, helping them back to full and healthy lives.”

Exciting breakthrough in treating dyspla …

by Desert AIDS

Dr. Steven Scheibel, Medical Director at Desert AIDS Project, believes he’s found a new way to treat the conditions that can lead to anal cancer. The new therapy uses human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in conjunction with an immune-boosting cream to kill anal dysplasia, which is often a gateway to anal cancer. This therapy promises to be an alternative to surgery as well as a way to address soaring rates of HPV and resulting dysplasia, which weighs so heavily on gay men and those with HIV.

Dr. Scheibel, along with Dr. Praveena Yetur of LabCorp in Monrovia, wanted to treat anal dysplasia, which manifests as lesions in the anal cavity. These lesions can range from mild to severe and may morph into cancer. Working with a 55-year-old man with moderate to severe anal dysplasia, the patient was given imiquimod cream followed by injections of an HPV vaccine called Gardasil. By intervals of three to four weeks, the treatments were delivered over a two-year period. “The patient was screened for high-risk HPV on a weekly basis and had multiple biopsies to identify possible dysplasia,” Dr. Scheibel says. “The result was no virus and a normal anal Pap smear.”

Treatment for HPV and anal cancer is essential at D.A.P. because they pose growing threats to many of our patients. HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted virus circulating today, with up to 75% of sexually active people contracting it in their lifetimes, according to Boston Medical Center’s website. Medical experts agree that HPV infection is even higher in people with HIV. And, although anal cancer is still relatively rare, its prevalence is growing fast, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM) and those who are HIV-positive, says BioMedCentral.com.  In fact, anal cancer among MSM with HIV is rising at 80 times the rate of the general population, Dr. Scheibel reports. Therefore, D.A.P. is busy searching for answers to HPV, anal cancer, and other clinical issues that challenge our patients.

HPV also is a key factor in head and neck cancer, for which we offer free screenings to clients, staff, and the general public once a year through the Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center. Dr. Scheibel leads a movement to increase clinical research performed under our roof and has made notable headway in the area of HPV and anal dysplasia. The treatment has shown so much promise that Dr. Scheibel will present his findings at “HPV 2015,” the 30th International Papillomavirus Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, held September 17-21.

Researching disease and sharing results with international colleagues, is not new to the internist, who specializes in infectious disease and is AAHIVS credentialed as an HIV Specialist. Dr. Scheibel has done clinical research on HIV and AIDS for decades and was a researcher as well as co-founder and Associate Medical Director of the Community Health Network in Rochester, N.Y., in 1989. He’s been on teams whose work is cited in books such as “Public Health Behind Bars: From Prisons to Communities.” Dr. Scheibel has presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, the Symposium on Cell Biology of Virus Entry, and he’s traveled to such cities as San Francisco, Casablanca, and Yokohama, Japan, to appear at the International Conference on AIDS.

Nevertheless, presentation at the HPV conference is special, says Rod Hagan, D.A.P.’s Clinical Research Coordinator: “If we could demonstrate a potential treatment for dysplasia that would prevent the need for the invasive surgical solutions that are out there, then this is huge. And getting the rate of HPV among our patients in line with that of the general population… yes, the potential of this is pretty exciting.”

 

Stress relief through Transcendental Med …

by Desert AIDS

It was at about the 12-mile mark of David Brinkman’s daily 17-mile run when the stress began to dissipate and the clarity necessary to run a “Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charity” like D.A.P. began to return.

But when a severe back injury put an end to the “extreme exercise” that supplied the dose of endorphins necessary to calm his mind, he needed a new stress reduction regimen. He chose Transcendental Meditation – more commonly known as TM – which has been learned by more than six million people of all ages, cultures, and religions.

David, who has been meditating for about five years, says, “Meditation is a way to access your own intuition by cutting through negative emotions that sometimes cloud our judgment,” David says. “For me, it’s a way to reconfirm that what I’m contemplating is not about ego, anxiety, or fear. What I choose to contemplate and what drives all of us at D.A.P. – staff and board – is serving humanity, right here in our own backyards. For me, when I can access that, everything falls into place.”

When he introduced TM to D.A.P. during the winter All-Staff Meeting, David told employees that meditation aligns with Building Connections, D.A.P.’s organizational philosophy of “connecting the best in me with the best in others.” It’s D.A.P.’s way of encouraging all employees to be ever-present and judgment-free in their daily interactions … with each other, with clients and patients, with volunteers, with donors … with everyone.

Twenty-eight D.A.P. employees jumped at the chance to learn TM. In fact, there was more demand than we could initially accommodate. David hopes to make the training to available to more staff – and to clients.

That’s because TM is particularly useful in an AIDS service environment according to the David Lynch Foundation, whose mission is to heal traumatic stress and raise performance in at-risk populations. Their target audiences for the benefits of TM are diverse, including school children, military veterans with PTSD, the homeless … and those living with HIV.

Dennis Rowe, director of Transcendental Meditation Palm Springs and certified teacher, says “Transcendental Meditation is a simple and natural process that allows participants to experience a peaceful silence deep within the mind. They sit quietly with their eyes closed and use a mantra that allows the mind to settle down into a peaceful, relaxed state. During that time, serotonin, the chemical that maintains mood balance, increases. At the same time, cortisol, a stress hormone, decreases while blood vessels expand. As you meditate, you just experience deep rest.”

San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Clinical Services Director Jeffrey M. Leiphart, PhD, uses TM with their clients and says “As stress rises, the immune system, which is already is under attack by the HIV in a person’s system, falters. Anything the HIV-infected person can do to interrupt that and provide a sense of relaxation and safety will be immune-enhancing. TM is a great example of that.” Norma, one of their clients, says “TM has helped me tremendously – not just in releasing stress but also increasing my number of T cells. And lowering my blood pressure to the point I no longer need medication.”

TM works by changing the blood flow to the brain, an effective way to manage anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, and cognitive ability, many peer-reviewed studies show. This becomes a potent medicine to reduce cholesterol, congestive heart failure, stroke, metabolic syndrome or pre-diabetes, and pain. Meditation also unlocks potential for intelligence, creativity, and learning.

David says “For me, it’s simple … when you find an effortless way to reduce stress, you have an important tool for dealing with the stress of modern-day life. I hope D.A.P. can bring that to our clients.”

Client’s Bill of Rights

by Desert AIDS
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO

  1. Be treated in a respectful manner that honors your dignity and privacy.
  2. Not be discriminated against in the delivery of health care treatment based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability or source of payment.
  3. Know the reason for tests and treatment and understand the benefits and risks.
  4. Receive comprehensive health care provided in a safe and clean environment and in an accessible manner.
  5. You have the right to talk with a health care provider in private and have your personal health care information kept private as protected under state and federal laws.
  6. Have our staff explain advance directives or other confidential rights you may have.
  7. To get accurate, easy-to-understand information and have someone help you make informed health care decisions.
  8. Have an interpreter available if your primary language is not English.
  9. Refuse treatment and be informed of the consequences.
  10. The right to notify your physician when a second opinion is desired.

YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO

  1. Participate in the development and implementation of your care. A Client may also designate a health spokesperson.
  2. To be fully engaged in the services provided, including frequency of services and to participate in decisions regarding your care and treatment objectives.
  3. Provide a correct and complete medical history, including information about past illness, medication, hospitalization or other related information.
  4. Ask questions if you do not understand documents you are asked to sign or your confidential rights to use and disclosure of your health care information.
  5. Notify us if you are already established with another provider or agency and your choice of Laboratory/Pharmacy or other health care service you want to use.
  6. Accept the consequences of refusing treatment recommended by the Physician.
  7. Voice any concerns or dissatisfactions you may have with your care.
  8. Notify D.A.P. immediately of any changes in your residence, telephone number or financial status.
  9. Treat our staff with respect and consideration.
  10. Pay required fees as appropriate.

Hepatitis treatment is as close as The D …

by Desert AIDS

An uptick in rates of the hepatitis virus has attracted new attention to May as Hepatitis Awareness Month and May 19 as Hepatitis Testing Day. Hepatitis is a growing concern not only nationwide but in Riverside County as well.

Hepatitis is a virus that shows itself in three forms: Hepatitis A (HAV,) Hepatitis B (HBV,) and Hepatitis C (HCV.) All forms prey on the liver and can lead to liver cancer … but each has different causes and modes of transmission. The common element across all three forms is that many people, who are in the position to pass it on, don’t even know they have it.

That’s precisely why we test for Hepatitis, as well as HIV at The Dock, our new sexual health clinic, located on the southeast corner of D.A.P.’s main campus. We test, we treat, and we immediately connect our patients with counseling and care that’s both compassionate and confidential.

Regardless of whether it’s Hepatitis Awareness Month or Hepatitis Testing Day … or any other day of the year … the door to treatment  at The Dock is open from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, no appointment necessary. In addition, the clinic also offers treatment and testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and human papillomavirus (HPV.) Well-Woman services at The Dock also include breast and pelvic exams, as well as pap smears.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,) about 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HBV while 3.2 million have HCV. Rates for both forms of the Hepatitis virus had been falling locally, but they’re rising again along with a noticeable jump in cases among women. This, according to the county’s 2013 Communicable Disease Report, which also tells us that “Hep C” is the second most prevalent sexually transmitted infection reported in Riverside County – estimating that an alarming 60-70% of chronic Hep C cases will develop chronic liver disease and require liver transplants.

Widespread use of Hep B vaccine has helped curb the spread of that strain. And Hep C is now treatable with drug therapies that aren’t as harsh as they once were. Nevertheless, Riverside County faces challenges in lowering rates of Hep C.

“The Healthy People 2020 objective for acute hepatitis C is 0.2 new cases per 100,000 county residents,” the report says. “Riverside County did not achieve this goal, with 0.3 cases per 100,000 residents in 2013.”

The Dock at Desert AIDS Project aims to reverse that trend.

Made possible by funding from Desert Healthcare District/Echo posible por media de fondos de Desert Healthcare District

Desert AIDS Project opens “The DOCK” …

by Desert AIDS

On Monday, March 16, Desert AIDS Project is opening a new sexual health clinic for men and women called the DOCK.

“The idea for The DOCK came out of our Get Tested Coachella Valley coalition of community partners, which just completed a very successful first year of getting adults and adolescents tested for HIV,” said David Brinkman, CEO of Desert AIDS Project. “Get Tested Coachella Valley is a ‘Treatment as Prevention’ model, which connects people who test HIV-positive to care and services, benefiting their own health while also making them substantially less likely to transmit HIV to others.”

In addition to HIV testing, The DOCK will later provide testing and treatment for other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and will offer PrEP and PEP medication therapies to help individuals at higher risk of acquiring HIV to safeguard their HIV-negative status. (See below for more information about PrEP and PEP.)

The new clinic will be open Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Appointments can be made by calling 760-992-0492 starting March 16. Free and confidential HIV testing is available on a walk-in basis, with no appointment necessary.

The name of the new clinic stems in part from its unique entryway: the loading dock ramp located on the south side of the Desert AIDS Project building. A second factor is the play on words between “dock” and “doc” (doctor).

The program model for The DOCK was developed in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health’s STD Control Branch, the California Office of AIDS, and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. “Our intention for The DOCK is to completely address the sexual wellness needs of our local community, regardless of their ability to pay,” said D.A.P. Medical Director Dr. Steven Scheibel, MD, AAHIVS. “We can’t let the lack of insurance coverage be responsible for a greater spread of HIV or any sexually-transmitted infection.”

PrEP? PEP? What is this alphabet soup?

While a cure for HIV and/or AIDS may someday change this, the human immune system can’t rid the body of HIV, once the virus enters. A bout with the flu might be exhausting and uncomfortable, we know that there’s an end in sight, once the virus clears our system. Not so with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

HIV attacks our T-cells – also known as CD-4 cells – using them to make copies of the virus. The good news is that not everyone who becomes infected with HIV will eventually progress to an AIDS diagnosis.

However, if HIV is not properly intercepted through medication and ongoing care, it will destroy so many T-cells that it will advance to AIDS, the final stage of HIV infection.

PrEP – or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis – helps guard against HIV infection
PrEP is a way for those who do not have HIV to prevent acquiring the virus by taking a daily pill.  At present, the only PrEP regimen is Truvada – a combination therapy of tenofovir and emtricitabine – used to treat many who are already living with HIV.

PrEP with Truvada has been endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) as a “powerful HIV prevention tool and can be combined with condoms and other prevention methods to provide an even greater protection than when used alone.” In a high-prevalence-for-HIV area like the Coachella Valley, people who are HIV-negative should carefully consider whether PrEP might be right for them, as a means of remaining virus-free. However, adherence to the daily pill regimen is important and it should always be remembered that PrEP does NOT guard against possible infection from other sexually-transmitted infections, including Hepatitis C.

PEP – or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis – if you think you may have just been exposed to HIV

Similar to PrEP, a PEP regimen involves antiretroviral medications used to treat an HIV-infected person. However in the case of Post-Exposure, these medicines must be taken as soon as possible – but no more than 72 hours – after the person believes s/he may have been exposed to HIV. The two to three medicines used in PEP stop HIV from making copies of itself and spreading through the body.

PEP must be taken for 28 days – but may not guarantee that someone exposed will not become infected with HIV. It is not a substitute for regular use of HIV prevention methods, such as PrEP mentioned above, or the correct and consistent use of condoms. Anyone prescribed PEP will be asked to return for HIV testing at 4-6 weeks, then at three months, and again at six months after the potential exposure to HIV.

Made possible by funding from Desert Healthcare District/Echo posible por media de fondos de Desert Healthcare District

“The DOCK – for your sexual health� …

by Desert AIDS

Treating sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) while expanding access to HIV testing

PALM SPRINGS, CA, March 5, 2015 – A handicapped-access ramp on the south side of the Desert AIDS Project building at 1695 N. Sunrise Way at Vista Chino in Palm Springs will help ensure that everyone will have access to The DOCK, a new sexual health clinic opening Monday, March 16.

That ramp is within the loading dock area of the Lila & Morris Linsky Food Depot at D.A.P. – part of the reason for the new clinic’s name.  “We also thought it was a fun play on words for the “docs” – the doctors – that people are going to find at this new clinic,” said David Brinkman, CEO of Desert AIDS Project. “We felt driven to open the clinic for three important reasons. First, it’s central to D.A.P.’s mission of not only treating HIV but in preventing its spread. Second, many other sexually-transmitted diseases are affecting the Coachella Valley at epidemic rates. And third, we need to reach out to those who are sexually-active – and may be having unprotected sex – because they are at high risk for infection. A full-service sexual health clinic addresses all three reasons.”

Services of The DOCK will include free and confidential HIV rapid testing; testing and treatment for other sexually-transmitted infections, including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV,) and Hepatitis B and C; and well-woman exams, including breast and pelvic exams, and pap smears. The DOCK will accept all private insurance, as well as Medicare and Medi-Cal. Uninsured income-qualified patients can receive care at reduced costs and will not be turned away for inability to pay.

The new sexual health clinic will also serve as a comprehensive resource for those interested in learning more about PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis), two HIV prevention tools recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service for HIV-negative individuals who are at substantial risk for acquiring HIV.

  • PrEP is a daily medication, endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as “a powerful HIV prevention tool and can be combined with condoms and other prevention methods to provide even greater protection than when used alone.”
  • PEP is preventive medical treatment started immediately after exposure to HIV to help protect against infection and disease.

“People with STDs are medically at greater risk of acquiring HIV, so all of the services offered at The DOCK are inter-related and important to sexual health,” said Dr. Steven Scheibel, medical director of both Desert AIDS Project and The DOCK. “Regardless of the reason that anyone comes to The DOCK – whether for STD testing and treatment or because they’re considering PrEP – knowing their HIV status establishes a baseline for their standard of care.”

That standard of care is a basic tenet of Get Tested Coachella Valley, the coalition of 50+ community partners, seeking to get all adults and adolescents in the region tested initially – and regularly thereafter – for HIV. The campaign’s first year efforts have already begun to help turn the tide of dramatically reducing the spread of HIV, as recognized by the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, the CDC, and the California State Office of AIDS. “As a full-service sexual health clinic, The DOCK is one more welcome – and very important – addition to our region-wide effort to stop the spread of HIV,” said Susan Unger, project director for Get Tested Coachella Valley.

Free HIV testing and PrEP counseling will be available on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM with no appointment necessary. For those who would prefer a scheduled time, appointments can be made – between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM on Monday orThursday only – by calling 760-992-0492, beginning March 16. For more information about The DOCK, please visit www.thedockclinic.org.

Those interested in starting PrEP can visit The DOCK to confirm their HIV-negative status – a requirement for beginning PrEP – as well as to receive counseling and have their questions answered, all at no cost. Those interested in considering PrEP may then schedule a follow-up appointment with a medical provider at The DOCK, who will confirm whether PrEP is appropriate and prescribe medication accordingly.

Made possible by funding from Desert Healthcare District/Echo posible por media de fondos de Desert Healthcare District

ABOUT DESERT AIDS PROJECT
Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.) serves people living with HIV and AIDS by providing comprehensive support, including medical care, case management, and social services, like food, housing, and counseling. D.A.P. also offers free and confidential HIV testing at a number of locations throughout the communities it serves. To learn more about Desert AIDS Project, please call 760-323-2118, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube.

About Get Tested Coachella Valley
Get Tested Coachella Valley is a three-year, $5 million public health initiative dedicated to dramatically reducing HIV infections by making voluntary HIV testing a standard and routine medical practice and ensuring linkage to care. The campaign was launched in 2014 under the leadership of Desert AIDS Project and is driven by a coalition of more than 50 Community Partners including the Riverside County Department of Public Health; the region’s major hospitals; elected officials; and leaders of community- and faith-based organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and foundations. Additional information and resources are offered in both English and Spanish at www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org andwww.haztelapruebavalledecoachella.org.

Nationally renowned choreographer will s …

by Desert AIDS

PALM SPRINGS, CA, January 8, 2015 – Mandy Moore gave all the right moves to Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in the Oscar-nominated film Silver Linings Playbook. Remember that dance that captured their tortured love story … the one that was equal parts clumsy, romantic, and touching? Mandy will give that same delicate touch to the featured dance sequences at the 21st Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards held Saturday, February 7, at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

The gripping story of a couple living with HIV combines the talents of Scott Alan, whose songs have been sung by Broadway’s elite, with the creative direction of Live It Up! Productions president Trini Garza and his co-creative director Brandon Alameda. Trini and Brandon teamed up with Scott to write a very tender story that will be told throughout the evening of the gala.

The moves, though, come courtesy of Mandy Moore. She’s directed huge production numbers on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. She also created Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour. Mandy both directed and choreographed the movie-cum-Broadway musical, The Wedding Singer. At “The Steve Chase,” she will be directing the So You Think You Can Dance All-Stars.

All of the work that Mandy, her dancers, and the other entertainers – Shoshana Bean, Scott Alan, and our emcee, popular comic actor Mario Cantone – perform for the gala help celebrate giants in AIDS research, treatment, volunteering, and philanthropy. Moreover, it raises funds needed to provide the comprehensive and compassionate care that Desert AIDS Project offers our friends and neighbors in Riverside County living with HIV and AIDS.

Staging a glamorous evening that entertains and informs the Coachella Valley about HIV – so we can support those with this harsh and angry disease – is an important chapter in the D.A.P. silver linings playbook.

ABOUT THE STEVE CHASE GALA AND DESERT AIDS PROJECT
As the signature fundraiser for Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.), the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards last year raised more than $1.4 million for client services. Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.) serves people living with HIV and AIDS by providing comprehensive support, including medical care, case management, and social services, like food, housing, and counseling. D.A.P. also offers free and confidential HIV testing at a number of locations throughout the communities it serves. To learn more about Desert AIDS Project, please call 760-323-2118, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube.

Rita Moreno and George Chakiris of “We …

by Desert AIDS

Get your tickets NOW for Friday, November 14 at the Palm Springs Convention Center

PALM SPRINGS, CA, October 22, 2014 – It’s time for a quick quiz. What’s an EGOT?

The fastest answer could be either “Rita Moreno” or a very short of other luminaries in the entertainment industry. The more complete answer is that EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards – and there are only 12 people who have the distinction of winning all four major annual American entertainment awards. But … ahem … Rita Moreno was the very first EGOT performer, according to IMDb.

But EGOT  or not … when it comes to “West Side Story,” one of movie history’s best-known dance films, George Chakiris can stand proudly next to Ms. Moreno because they both won Oscars and Golden Globes for their Best Supporting roles. All in all, the movie took 30 awards – including the Oscar for Best Picture and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture-Musical — .as well as seven other award nominations. Now, THAT is some dancing!!

We’re guessing that means Nina Beck, Natalie Brunell, Nino Eilets, Albert Gonzalez, Tom Kirk, Joe Pradetto, Mindy Reed, and Mary Silverman had better demonstrate some GREAT dancing chops with Moreno and Chakiris on the judging panel. “With judges like these – and one more yet to come – we’re really happy that we chose a larger venue, with the Palm Springs Convention Center,” said Dave Morgan, president of Reaction Productions. “With each year, the event has become more popular – which is really gratifying because it benefits the 100 Women program at Desert AIDS Project, to help women with HIV and their kids.”

Call your friends and plan to make a party of Dancing with the Desert Stars on Friday, November 14. But first, you’ll need to get your tickets NOW … by visiting desertAIDSproject.org or calling 760-992-0440. And make sure to read the dancer bios, by clicking on any of their photos, while you’re there … because even though the judges get to decide who will be the 2014 Desert Dancing Star, it’s YOU and the rest of the audience who will decide Fan Favorite!

ABOUT 100 WOMEN AND DESERT AIDS PROJECT
100 Women meets the needs of women and children whose lives are affected by HIV or AIDS. They do this by funding gynecological services like pap smears, underwriting mammograms, helping ensure healthcare access, and so much more. Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.) serves people living with HIV and AIDS by providing comprehensive support, including medical care, case management, and social services, like food, housing, and counseling. D.A.P. also offers free and confidential HIV testing at a number of locations throughout the communities it serves. To learn more about Desert AIDS Project, please call 760-323-2118, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube.