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July 28 is World Hepatitis Day

by Daniel Vaillancourt

The ABCDEs of Hepatitis

Words by Daniel Hirsch

 

Every year, World Hepatitis Day is marked on July 28. It’s an occasion to raise awareness about the spread and prevention of the disease. Given that the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 354 million people live with either hepatitis B or C, and that roughly 4.5 million premature deaths could be prevented by 2030 through education, vaccination, testing, and treatment, it’s a very good thing to know about.

 

I spoke with DAP Health Director of Infectious Diseases Dr. Shubha Kerkar about what can be done to slow the spread of hepatitis, and why some forms of it are dubbed “the silent killer.” With three decades of experience fighting infectious disease, Dr. Kerkar is intimate with the complex factors involved in ending pandemics.

 

Why is hepatitis serious?

Untreated viral hepatitis B or C causes three things: liver failure, liver cirrhosis (permanent liver scarring), and liver cancer. Almost always, the number one reason for liver cancer or liver transplant in the U.S. — up until very recently — was hepatitis C-related cirrhosis. Untreated, hepatitis B or C can be fatal.

 

There are many types of hepatitis — A, B, C, D, E — why focus on types B and C?

Since 1982, hepatitis B has been preventable via a vaccine administered to children before they are two years of age. Still, we have 254 million people living with hepatitis B today. There are certain medicines to control it, but it can still lead to liver cancer. We need to get more people vaccinated, but people have developed tremendous distrust in vaccines over the last few years, so there are challenges.

 

Hepatitis C was a bigger pandemic until 2015 or so. We are now rapidly able to cure hepatitis C. The burden went down, but currently, 50 million people still live with hepatitis C.

 

So, of these two viruses, C is curable, and B is preventable. That’s the bottom line.

 

How does hepatitis C spread?

Primarily through contact with infected blood, which means intravenous drug users are at especially high risk.

 

However, about 50 to 60% of people who have hepatitis C may not even know it because they’ve never been tested — and there are often no symptoms initially. Over two to four decades, it then slowly scars the liver. Symptoms of liver failure occur when the liver decompensates, and a cure may not save the need for transplant. That’s why it’s known as “the silent killer.”

 

Because the test was only developed in 1992, hepatitis C has spread all over the world. So regardless of risk factors, baby boomers have a five-fold higher risk of unknowingly having hepatitis C. They need to get tested to see if they have it. Then, we can cure them.

 

The other thing about hepatitis C is that you can get reinfected after being cured, so it’s important to learn how to stay cured by managing risk factors and avoiding exposure, which led to the infection in the first place.

 

And hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is mainly transmitted through sexual contact, but can also spread through contaminated food or water. Most importantly, pregnant-mother-to-child transmission can occur during labor.

 

What can be done to stop the spread?

I have been treating and trying to cure hepatitis C since 1996. From 1996 to 2015, there was a 35 to 45 % cure rate. However, since the newer medications — which are easy to tolerate without any side effects — the cure rate is nearly 100%. So, the easiest part of treating hepatitis C is getting people tested so they know they have it, then linking them to care.

 

Hepatitis B is preventable via vaccine, yet I do manage several patients who have hepatitis B. It is treatable but prevention is best.

 

To eliminate viral hepatitis, we need education, prevention, screening, and linkage to care. Here in the Coachella Valley, DAP Health has been doing a lot of free testing.

 

For both hepatitis B and C, elimination and cure are the goals. Eliminate hep B by vaccination. Eliminate hep C by widespread testing and linkage to care, and cure those who have it with treatment.

 

For free hepatitis C testing, please contact one of DAP Health's three sexual wellness clinics, in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, or Indio.

 

To be tested for other forms of the disease, for vaccination, or for treatment, please see your primary care physician — at DAP Health or elsewhere.

 

And to learn more about individual types of the disease, read below.

 

The ABCDEs of Hepatitis

 

Each type of hepatitis has unique transmission methods, symptoms, potential for chronic infection, and prevention strategies. Read on…

 

Hepatitis A (HAV)

 

  • Transmission: Fecal-oral route, often through contaminated food or water.
  • Symptoms: Acute illness with jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and fever.
  • Chronicity: Does not become chronic.
  • Prevention: Vaccination and good hygiene.

 

Hepatitis B (HBV)

  • Transmission: Blood, sexual contact, and from mother to child during childbirth.
  • Symptoms: Acute and chronic liver disease. Can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
  • Chronicity: Can become chronic.
  • Prevention: Vaccination prevents infection

 

Hepatitis C (HCV)

  • Transmission: Blood, primarily through sharing needles or blood transfusions. Tattoos
  • Symptoms: Often asymptomatic initially, it can lead to chronic liver disease.
  • Chronicity: Often becomes chronic.
  • Prevention: No vaccine but avoid sharing needles and ensure safe blood products.
  • Cure: Can be easily cured, but cure does not give immunity.

 

Hepatitis D (HDV)

  • Transmission: Blood, similar to HBV; requires HBV for replication.
  • Symptoms: Similar to HBV but more severe liver disease.
  • Chronicity: Can become chronic.
  • Prevention: HBV vaccination (since HDV requires HBV to propagate).

 

Hepatitis E (HEV)

  • Transmission: Fecal-oral route, similar to HAV, often through contaminated water.
  • Symptoms: Acute liver disease with jaundice, fever, and abdominal pain.
  • Chronicity: Rarely becomes chronic.
  • Prevention: Good sanitation and hygiene practices; vaccination

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day

by Daniel Vaillancourt

The Enduring Importance of National HIV Testing Day

HIV is still a threat. Every year in the U.S., tens of thousands of people acquire the virus. And the only way HIV becomes a manageable disease is to find out you have it — and get treatment if you do.

 

Many people today mistakenly believe HIV/AIDS is no longer a concern. This misconception arises from the reduced visibility of the epidemic in media, successful prevention measure such as PEP and PrEP (daily oral and bimonthly long-lasting injectable), and the substantial progress made in medical treatments that allow those with HIV to live long, healthy lives.

However, HIV/AIDS remains a significant global health issue, with new infections occurring daily and many individuals unaware of their status. This ongoing challenge underscores the importance of National HIV Testing Day, observed annually on June 27.

Initiated in 1995 by the National Association of People with AIDS, this day serves as a critical reminder that knowing your HIV status is a crucial step in managing and preventing the spread of the virus. The day is marked by efforts from health care providers, community organizations, and public health entities — like DAP Health throughout Southern California — to make testing more accessible and to educate the public about the benefits of early detection.

 

Why Get Tested

There are several compelling reasons to get tested for HIV, whether it’s your first time or a routine checkup. First, early detection of HIV can significantly improve health outcomes. Modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) can suppress the virus to undetectable levels, preventing the progression to AIDS and allowing individuals to lead normal lives. Early treatment also reduces the likelihood of transmitting the virus to others, as those with an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to HIV-negative partners. Undetectable = Untransmittable. Or U = U.

Secondly, knowing your HIV status is empowering, as it enables you to make informed decisions about your health and take proactive measures. For those who test negative, it’s an opportunity to reinforce protective behaviors and consider preventive options such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that not only significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV, but that comes in a daily oral pill or a bimonthly, long-lasting injectable form.

HIV does not discriminate, and everyone who is sexually active should consider regular testing as part of their routine health care.

 

Reducing Stigma

National HIV Testing Day helps combat stigma by normalizing the conversation about HIV and encouraging a collective responsibility toward ending the epidemic.

At each of DAP Health’s three sexual wellness clinics (in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Indio), patients are guaranteed a stigma-and-shame-free experience when it comes to getting tested for HIV. If a patient receives a positive diagnosis, options for treatment are immediately discussed with them. And if they’re negative, there are PrEP navigators at the ready to discuss every HIV prevention option.

This year, in an effort to reduce societal stigma, DAP Health is encouraging people who choose to get tested to do so with a platonic friend or sexual partner. This buddy system is a form of support that doubles the impact of National HIV Testing Day.

 

How to Get a Free HIV Test at DAP Health

There are two ways to get an HIV test at no cost at DAP Health. The first is to visit one of our three sexual wellness clinics (in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Indio). The other is to request that an HIV self-test be discreetly mailed to your home.

Knowing one’s HIV status is still crucial. It is a step toward protecting one’s health and the health of others, contributing to the broader goal of ending the HIV epidemic.

Get tested with DAP Health on, before, or after National HIV Testing Day (June 27). And regularly thereafter. Protect yourself, protect others, and play a part in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

 

Free Rapid HIV Testing at Walgreens Locations on June 27

Please note that DAP Health staff members will be offering free rapid HIV tests (blood draw; results in 20 minutes) at the six Walgreens locations below, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Thursday, June 27. No appointment necessary.

 

1700 East Vista Chino, Palm Springs, CA 92262

2465 East Palm Canyon Drive, Bldg. 14, Palm Springs, 92264

33975 Date Palm Drive, Cathedral City, CA 92234

72027 Dinah Shore Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

82955 Avenue 48, Bldg. B, Indio, CA 92201

8917 Trautwein Road, Riverside, CA 92508

Pride-Themed Podcast Features Our Very O …

by Daniel Vaillancourt

DAP Health's Director of Gender Health & Wellness Mita Beach Shines in IEHP iHeart Media Pride-Themed Podcast

 

The latest episode of the IEHP podcast “Covering Your Health” launched on iHeart Media this morning. In celebration of Pride month, host Evelyn Erives sat down with DAP Health’s Director of Gender Health & Wellness Mita Beach. Together, they delved into the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community when it comes to health and wellness. From mental health support to inclusive health care practices, Mita shared valuable insights and strategies for promoting well-being, including how to best be an ally. “Educate yourself,” urged Mita. “Ally is a verb.”

 

Click here to listen to the Pride-themed episode.

 

To learn more about DAP Health’s Gender Health & Wellness programs, click here.

 

For more on Mita, please read below.

 

Mita Beach, LBBP, is the director of Gender Health & Wellness at DAP Health. In this role, Mita is leading the strategic development and implementation of health and wraparound services for trans and gender-diverse patients.

With an impressive background that includes serving as the manager of Gender Health & Wellness at DAP Health, Mita has a proven track record of enhancing program development and delivering comprehensive health services. Their experience extends to working as a trans health navigator at Borrego Health, where they conducted patient assessments and facilitated support groups.

Mita brings over 20 years of corporate leadership experience and 15 years of consulting expertise in LGBTQ+ rights, sexual health, and sexuality education. They have designed and facilitated numerous workshops across various sectors, demonstrating a commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive environments. 

Mita is an active member of several professional organizations, including the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss (AMPHL), the National Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies (NALGAP), and the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF).

Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs …

by Daniel Vaillancourt

Annual Philanthropic Foodie Event Happens Thursday, April 25

 

DAP Health participates in the one-day North American gastronomic fundraiser for the 19th year.

 

 

Dining Out For Life® — the annual, North American foodie fundraising event that has collected more than nearly 100 million dollars for community-based organizations that serve people living with or impacted by HIV since its inception in 1991 — will take place in Palm Springs and across the Coachella Valley on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Every year since 2005, Greater Palm Springs has participated in the all-day/all-night affair on behalf of DAP Health. And on each of those occasions, locals, snowbirds, and tourists have swelled with pride and come out in droves to raise much-needed funds while enjoying the generosity of participating local restaurants, bars, cafés, and bakeries that donate anywhere from 30 to 110% of their entire day’s and/or evening’s receipts — not just the profits — to the legendary effort.

Thanks to the generous support of participating restaurants, volunteers, and community members, Greater Palm Springs perennially places in the top three successful markets in the country. In 2023, 72 desert establishments participated to raise more than $270,000 — more than San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and other large urban centers.

With more than 12,000 local supporters expected to dine out for life at breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and/or late night this year, the 2024 goal is for Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs to grab the number one spot.

Eager participants are urged to visit daphealth.org/dofl, make reservations well in advance, and prepare to satisfy their hunger and thirst as many times as possible on April 25 to beat the North American record right here in our own back yard. If their favorite eatery hasn’t yet made its participation public, diners should speak up and urge the powers that be to sign up ASAP.

For the second year in a row, on the night before — from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. — DAP Health will host a Bar Crawl on Arenas Road in Palm Springs that will serve as the official kickoff of DOFLGPS 2024. Drag performer Jackett Knightley, the event’s special ambassador, will “Pied Piper” patrons from bar to bar, where DAP Health volunteers will provide proof of participation by punching each revealer’s Bar Crawl bingo card.  

DOFL National’s website states that each year “more than 50 local HIV service organizations partner with 2,400+ participating restaurants, 4,100+ volunteers, and 300,000+ diners to raise over $4.5 million for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Canada. The best part? All funds raised through a city’s Dining Out For Life event stay in that city to provide help and hope to people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS.”

“Because we were founded 40 years ago as a response to the AIDS crisis, Dining Out For Life has always been of supreme importance to DAP Health’s staff and patients,” says CEO David Brinkman. “Since our recent tremendous expansion has allowed us to increase our award-winning HIV/AIDS care from three to five of our 25 clinics, this annual event is more important to us than ever.”

To register as a Dining Out For Life in-restaurant volunteer ambassador on April 25 — or to sign on as a participating establishment, please contact Bruce Benning at [email protected] or 760.320.7854.

Participating Restaurants at Press Time

1501 Uptown Gastropub

Aspen Mills Bakery & Café

Barracks Bar

Bongo Johnny’s

Carousel Bakery

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen Palm Desert

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen Palm Springs

Chicken Ranch

Clandestino

Copley’s on Palm Canyon

Cork & Fork

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge

El Mirasol at Los Arboles

El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana

El Patio Palm Springs

Elmer’s

FARM

Gelato Granucci

Grand Central

Heirloom Craft Kitchen

Impala Bar & Grill Nightclub

Johannes

Johnny Costa’s Ristorante

Kaiser Grille

Le Donne Cucina Italiana

Lulu California Bistro

Palm Greens Café

Purple Room

Spencer’s Restaurant at the Mountain

Tac/Quila

The Front Porch

Toucan’s

Townie Bagels

Trio Restaurant

Willie’s Modern Fare

Zin American Bistro

Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs 2024 Sponsors at Press Time

Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa, and The Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation

Media Sponsors

Alpha Media

KESQ ABC News Channel 3

KGAY 106.5 & 92.1, GayDesertGuide.LGBT and 103.1 MeTVfm

NBC Palm Springs

The Chase 2024 $2.3 Million Raised at 30 …

by Steven Henke

$2.3 Million Raised at 30th Annual The Chase Celebrating DAP Health’s 40th Anniversary

Icon Barry Manilow serenades 2024’s nine joint Community Legacy Award honorees with a custom-made performance.

Words by Daniel Vaillancourt

 

Music and passion were clearly the fashion — and oh, what fashion! — at the 30th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, presented by Desert Care Network, which celebrated not only DAP Health’s 40th anniversary but the nine joint recipients of the 2024 Community Legacy Award.

The affair began on the chilly evening of Saturday, March 30 at the Palm Springs Convention Center with warm-hearted philanthropists in a festive mood making their entrance on the Blue Carpet, all of them dressed to thrill. That’s where Chief of Brand Marketing Steven Henke interviewed guests for live segments on NBC Palm Springs’ evening news.

The extravaganza ended a few hours later with legendary hitmaker (and beloved Palm Springs resident) Barry Manilow smiling, taking a bow, and clasping his hands in thanks — not just for the bountiful standing ovation, but for the $2.3 million raised during the course of the night.”

View The Chase Photo Album on DAP Health Facebook Page

Zing Went the Strings

After perusing (and bidding on) the silent auction items displayed during the generous cocktail hour where uniformed servers passed hors-d’oeuvres and D.J. Bob Scatch spun tunes, more than 1,300 guests were ushered into the ballroom, where, from centerstage, violinist Jennifer “Spags” Spignola provided a vivid accompaniment to their grand entrance and journey to their table. The venue was truly resplendent, with a revolving rainbow of colors continually shining down from above.

Attendees snapped to attention when the program was kickstarted with two introductory videos. The first was a lightning-fast compilation of star-studded images from the 29 previous galas. The second gave an overview of DAP Health’s vast array of programs and services that co-starred Palm Springs Councilmember Grace Elena Garner and her mother, Juanita. Garner’s late uncle, Justin Escobar, was a person living with HIV who was cared for at DAP Health, and Garner’s stepchild recently became one of the organization’s pediatric patients.

Following the clips, DAP Health Board Member and Gala Chair Kevin Bass officially welcomed the crowd. “DAP Health has been at the forefront of translating the lessons learned from the AIDS crisis into comprehensive, equitable health care that upholds the dignity of every individual regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, or health status,” he said. “Our commitment remains unwavering. In fact, we have expanded our HIV services to five locations, with plans to add more. Reflecting on our shared history fills me with immense pride, yet it is our unified vision for the future that truly fuels my optimism. Tonight, let us dare to dream of a tomorrow where comprehensive health care is a birthright for all, brimming with hope, resilience, and boundless opportunities.”

Bon Appétit and Lend Us Your Ears!

Dinner was then served, with attendees ensuring they left time to mingle and network. Soon, the speeches resumed, with DAP Health CEO David Brinkman taking the stage. “If Steve Chase were here tonight, he’d already have rearranged the layout, zhuzhed the flowers, hung art in our new clinics, and probably found himself uncharacteristically speechless by you, by your commitment and passion for improving the health and advancing the human rights of our 100,000 patients. Your presence honors what Steve envisioned: courage to step up, determination to lift up the powerless, and resolve to eradicate discrimination,” he said. “Today, we stand ready to provide the highest standard of care and advance the human rights of the people growing our food, single moms working two jobs, the angels who care for our growing aging population — all critical members of our community who need the care of DAP Health’s orthopedists, gynecologists, neurologists, and acupuncturists. 

“Not to mention people who are trans, who are facing a national epidemic of violence against them, who need the loving and judgement-free care of our physicians, psychologists, and gender-affirming care specialists. The trans community needs every one of us to have their backs right now. I am confident, as we continue to leverage our 25 clinics, that with the support of elected officials, our amazing board, staff, and volunteers, and you, we will achieve equity in health care and equality for all.”

Going Once, Going Twice...

Longtime “The Chase” auctioneer Dale Johannes then appeared, raising $107,000 from such varied packages as a post-show meet & greet with Manilow, travel extravaganzas, and a power system from sponsor Hot Purple Solar.

In one of the most inspiring moments of the evening, DAP Health Chief Operating Officer Corina Velasquez, who began her career in health care more than 20 years ago, and who served in a similar role at Borrego Health, made an entrance with four fellow DAP Health employees.

Together, they represented more than 120 years of service to the organization. In addition to speaking about growing up in the Eastern Coachella Valley as the middle child of a single mom of three who worked two jobs until she purchased the mini market where she moonlighted, Velasquez said, “My colleagues and I show up every day with our health care hero uniforms on — whether they be scrubs, business casual, or hard hats. We may all come from different backgrounds, but trust me when I say more connects than divides us. Health care is a calling, and our commitment to DAP Health’s mission is united and unshakeable. We are here. For one another. And for our patients.”

The group then introduced a poignant video featuring patient LaWanda Manigo, who credits the organization with not only saving her life, but making it infinitely better.

 

Michele Finney and Desert Care Network’s Commitment

When Johannes returned, with surprise celebrity guest (and past The Chase host) Michael Urie in tow, the audience was primed to give. And give they did, raising $783,000 during the “Fund the Need” portion of the evening. It was with this electric excitement in the air that Desert Care Network CEO Michele Finney addressed the room to remind attendees of her organization’s longstanding commitment to DAP Health.

“We have stood beside DAP for four decades. Our collective efforts to meet the health care needs of our communities began in 1984, during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Desert AIDS Project emerged and Desert Regional provided a dedicated floor for AIDS care,” she said, adding that during the last four decades DCN’s gifts to DAP have totaled nearly $8 million. “We made this investment because we see the need in our emergency rooms every day. We see patients with conditions that could have been treated earlier — or even prevented or avoided — if they had better access to primary care and supportive services. It is for that reason and many more that we recently announced our new gift to DAP Health. We are collaborating by supporting DAP Health’s newest affordable housing project — Vista Sunrise 2 — with a $2.5 million-dollar commitment.” Consider the crowd wowed.

Let Him Entertain You

As promised, the speeches were brief and few. Bass returned to introduce his best friend Manilow, who spent the next 75 minutes regaling a surprising number of Fanilows in attendance with such massive hits as “I Write the Songs,” “Mandy,” “Could This Be Magic,” and his encore, “Copacabana,” which he performed with Modern Men: Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus as backup.

In one of the most ingenious twists of the night, between songs, Manilow spoke briefly about each of the nine joint 2024 Community Legacy Award honorees — major donor Mark Adams, entertainer and patient Keisha D., Board Member Dr. Frank Figueroa, Board Chair Patrick Jordan, longtime supporter and advocate Dr. Terri Ketover, Steve Chase business partner Michael Kiner, Partners For Life major donor group founder Andy Linsky, volunteer psychotherapist Tori St. Johns, and project director of Get Tested Coachella Valley HIV prevention campaign and 100 Women major donor group co-founder  Susan Unger — introducing their separate tribute reels, exiting, and returning from the wings in a different sparkly dinner jacket every time.

The Feedback 

The word on the street following the extravaganza was that this was one of the best Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards in recent memory — thanks in large part to producer Debbie Chapman returning to bring back her expert guidance and creativity. Revelers were thankful for having attended.

“We certainly have never raised such a large amount of money at The Chase on behalf of our mission,” says Brinkman. “I left that ballroom with a big smile on my face and my heart full of love and appreciation for the members of our community who believe in our lifesaving work and who choose to support it with all their might. Together, we’ve already started building the next 40 years. Watch us fly!”

NBC Palm Springs will broadcast an edited one-hour special of “The Chase” on Sunday, April 14 at 9:00 a.m. (right after “Meet the Press”).

Thank You with a Capital TY!

The Chase 2024 was made possible through the generous support of presenting sponsor Desert Care Network alongside all sponsors listed below.

Brad and Lynne Toles of Savoury’s Palm Springs, and their kitchen and front-of-house staff, provided the delicious food, beverages, and service.

The Chase 2024 was Proudly Sponsored by:

Presenting Sponsor

Desert Care Network

 

Producing Sponsors

Eisenhower Health

Harold Matzner

 

Major Sponsors

Mark Adams

Amazon

Kevin Bass & Brent Bloesser

Jim Burba & Bob Hayes

Hanson Bridgett, LLP

Hot Purple Energy

El Paseo Jewelers

Patrick Jordan

Scot & Lance Karp

Local IQ/The Desert Sun

NBC Palm Springs

Palm Springs Convention Center

Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa, & The Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation

 

Star Sponsors

Facktor Healthcare Consulting

The Hammond Family Foundation

Walgreens

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Supporting Sponsors

Steven Anders

Daniel & Carolyn Caldwell

City of Rancho Mirage

Anthony Colantino & Craig Grantham

Bruce W. Finch & Keith Reimann

Eve E. Fromberg-Edelstein, Esq.

Gilead

Heather James Fine Art

Inland Empire Community Foundation

Interactive Design Corporation

Alan Kaminsky

Drs. Terri & Bart Ketover

Frank Kurland

Living Out

Marsh McLennan Agency

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Selene Palm Springs/Dream Hotel & Residence

The Stonewall Group

Trina Turk

Western Wind Foundation

David Zippel and Michael Johnston

 

Benefactor Sponsors

Coachella Valley Health Personnel

Contour Dermatology

Diageo

Heffernan Insurance Brokers

Labcorp

Perry S. McKay

Vaso Bello Celebrations

Patron Sponsors

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

Inland Empire Health Plan

Low Income Investment Fund

Cary Lowe and Allen Ames

Palm Springs Disposal Services

Personal Stories Project

Henry Schein

Southern Pacific Construction

The UPS Store Palm Springs

 

Media Sponsors

Alpha Media

CV Independent

Desert Charities News

Gay Desert Guide

GED Magazine

KESQ

Palm Springs Life

Performing Arts Live

The Hollywood Times

The Joey English Radio

The Rage Monthly Magazine

The Standard Magazine

High-Flying Volunteer

by Daniel Vaillancourt

                         Star DAP Health volunteer Jim Gonzales and fashion icon Donna Karan.

High-Flying Volunteer

Jim Gonzales has been all over the globe, but there’s no place like DAP Health.

Words by Kent Black

It might be said that Jim Gonzales is used to the thin air of high altitudes. The Raton, New Mexico native (elev. 6680 feet) worked for Frontier and United Airlines as a flight attendant for 37 years, jetting all over the world to favorite destinations such as Barcelona and Sydney. “I much preferred flying to being in an office,” he says from his lovely home near the Parker Palm Springs. “You get on the airplane, do your job, be nice, and then go home.”

When Gonzales retired in 2015, he and his late husband moved to the desert. Having volunteered for his union for the Colorado AIDS Project, he reached out to DAP Health to see what he could do to help. The nonprofit obliged. His first assignment was to help work the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, overseeing the silent auction. “I was really nervous as heck about it,” he admits, “but we ended up doing really well.”

Since then, his volunteer portfolio has grown to include duties commensurate with his welcoming and personable disposition. Each January, he donates his time at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

At DAP Health, he helps with fundraising for the organization’s Partners For Life major donor program, its annual Health Equity Walk, and the client Thanksgiving feast. He’s also one of the rotating volunteers who guides the monthly Impact Hour, where guests are led on a behind-the-scenes tour of the DAP Health campus and introduced to its programs and services. “It’s really impressive. Especially when we show them the 61-unit apartment building going up,” he says. “And there’s always a client present to talk about their journey and how they got there.”

Since making Palm Springs his home, Gonzales says, “I have been afforded the opportunity to work with and meet many giving and wonderful people who are also committed to the mission of DAP Health. Helping everyone who has a need … what could be better?”

And, of course, he’s always available for The Chase. Last year, he had the honor of escorting fashion designer and philanthropist Donna Karan when she was honored with DAP Health’s Equity Award. As a seasoned awards escort, what fashion icon does he hope to guide along the red carpet in the future? Perhaps Norma Kamali? “Oh, no,” he says. “I’m hoping for Tom Ford.”

To learn more about how to become a volunteer at DAP Health—at Revivals thrift stores, at special events, or on campus—please click here.

Dining Out For Life All-Stars

by Yurema Arvizu

Dining Out For Life All-Stars 

DAP Health counts many local restaurants as important allies in its annual drive to help fund comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, but these Top Three take the cake. 

Every year since 2005 (except for 2020 and 2021, when the Covid-19 virus derailed best-laid plans), DAP Health has participated in the annual North America-wide event known as Dining Out For Life (DOFL). Since its inception in 1991, it has earned more than $100 million for community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout the United States and Canada. Despite its relatively small size, Greater Palm Springs comes in number one in earnings per capita annually. Last year, more than $270,000 was raised on behalf of DAP Health. 

The backbone of this event’s success is not only the thousands of local and visiting foodie philanthropists who choose to dine out for a cause morning, noon, and night, but the desert restaurants, bars, cafes, and bakeries who donate varying percentages of their day’s and night’s take.  

We want to take a moment to give a special shout-out to the Top Three of the nearly 75 establishments that helped us rake in that take in 2023, which in turn permitted DAP Health to continue its commitment to providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS care to all those affected in the Coachella Valley and beyond. 

Clandestino 

A proud participant since 2023 (just mere months after it opened), this destination is known both for its flight of margaritas and for its curated menu of Mexican dishes full of finesse and flair. Owned by the extraordinary restaurateurs Liz and Mark Ostoich, it figures prominently in DOFL alongside its sister eateries Tac/Quila and The Front Porch. But Clandestino takes number one all on its own. clandestinopalmsprings.com 

Photo Credit: Clandestino

Lulu California Bistro 

A proud participant since opening its doors in 2011, this gargantuan, wildly popular hangout for both locals and tourists is owned by philanthropist Jerry Keller, whose late wife, Barbara, not only served as the first female chair of DAP Health’s board of directors, but whose name emblazons the main building on the nonprofit’s Sunrise campus: The Barbara Keller LOVE Building. lulupalmsprings.com 

Photo Credit: Lulu's

Spencer’s Restaurant at the Mountain 

A proud participant since 2006, this hotspot is owned by the legendary Harold Matzner, who has personally contributed more than $50 million to local charities since 1995. Most of his devoted clientele is unaware that the place is named after Matzner’s beloved canine companion (who left his side in 2007 at the age of 14), or that Matzner takes not one penny of Spencer’s profits, preferring to plunge it all back into his charitable giving. spencersrestaurant.com 

Photo Credit: Spencer's

Read more about Dining Out For Life 2023 here. 

DAP Health Unveils Details of Its 2024 S …

by Daniel Vaillancourt

DAP HEALTH UNVEILS DETAILS OF ITS 2024 STEVE CHASE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS

Legendary entertainer Barry Manilow donates his performance. Nine local honorees jointly receive the Community Legacy Award. Desert Care Network is presenting sponsor.

 

Humanitarians of all stripes are in for an electrifying evening indoors at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Saturday, March 30 as DAP Health celebrates its 40th anniversary at its biggest fundraiser of the year, the 30th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards (AKA The Chase), presented by Desert Care Network.

Internationally heralded solid gold hitmaker Barry Manilow — the Grammy-, Emmy-, and Tony-winning longtime Palm Springs resident who celebrates his seventh decade in show business in 2024 — will donate his performance to the internationally heralded DAP Health in honor of the organization’s four decades of lifesaving work.

This year’s Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards not only pay tribute to DAP Health’s long legacy of protecting and expanding health care access for the most vulnerable among us but recognize nine honorees who represent every community member who has helped fulfill DAP Health’s mission since it was founded as Desert AIDS Project by Palm Springs volunteers in 1984.

The joint recipients of the 2024 Community Legacy Award are:

  • Mark Adams
  • Frank Figueroa
  • Keisha Halverson (AKA Keisha D.)
  • Patrick Jordan
  • Terri Ketover
  • Michael Kiner
  • Andy Linsky
  • Tori St. Johns
  • Susan Unger

Gala Chair Kevin Bass promises that this year’s Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards will be bigger and better than ever — a memorable, inspiring evening that will boldly underline DAP Health’s remarkable past, present, and future as it takes its unique place on the Southern California health care landscape.

Also of note will be the live auction, with longtime DAP Health supporters El Paseo Jewelers and Hot Purple Energy both donating packages worth $40,000 in honor of DAP Health’s 40 years of service.

Tickets can be purchased at daphealth.org/thechase

ABOUT

DAP Health’s goal is to protect and expand health care access for all people regardless of who or where they are, their health status, or whether they have health insurance. In 2023, the nonprofit (founded by community volunteers in 1984 as Desert AIDS Project) made a successful bid to absorb the Borrego Health system, enabling 1,000 health care professionals to serve a total of more than 100,000 patients of all populations, genders, and ages — from newborns to seniors — at a total of 25 Southern California clinics located within 240 rural and urban zip codes from the Coachella Valley to the San Diego coast.

Barry Manilow is a world-renowned, award-winning singer-songwriter who has captivated audiences with his timeless music for the last seven decades. Beyond his considerable show business achievements, the Grammy-, Emmy-, and Tony-winning Manilow is actively involved in philanthropy, having supported various charitable causes throughout his career. Time and time again, he has stepped up as a major benefactor on behalf of DAP Health. His charitable endeavors are proof positive of a commitment to making a profound impact beyond the stage, further solidifying his legacy as both a musical icon and a compassionate humanitarian.

Mark Adams has been a central figure at The Chase, having chaired the event in 2001 and 2002. His commitment to DAP Health extends beyond the gala, as evidenced by his generous donation toward the acquisition of the Barbara Keller LOVE Building on the organization’s Sunrise campus in Palm Springs. Adams is deeply involved in cultural boards, including that of the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Palm Springs International Film Society. His involvement with DAP Health dates to the mid-1990s, showcasing a longstanding commitment to community well-being.

Dr. Frank Figueroa, the first openly gay elected official in the city of Coachella, has emerged as a trailblazer and advocate for inclusivity, making a profound impact in the eastern Coachella Valley. Previously having served on the Borrego Health board of trustees, Dr. Figueroa is a current DAP Health board member with a decade of experience in higher education administration. His history of prioritizing equal access to educational opportunities embodies values of integrity and compassion as he strives for positive change and serves as a beacon of hope in building an inclusive community.

Keisha Halverson (AKA Keisha D.) — a multifaceted figure in the Coachella Valley — has not only captivated audiences with her soulful voice but has also become an example of strength and resilience. In the face of personal challenges, including a health journey with lupus, she has continued her philanthropic efforts, creating the Keisha D. Music Scholarship to support high school seniors pursuing their passion. Her unwavering commitment to education and community well-being reflects her enduring impact as a singer, philanthropist, and beacon of strength.

Patrick Jordan is a dedicated AIDS activist, having contributed significantly to organizations such as the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Treatment Action Group, and notably, Desert AIDS Project/DAP Health. With a decade-long service on the DAP Health board of directors, including four years as chair, Jordan is a tireless advocate for health causes.

Terri Ketover, the founder of the “Do the Right Thing” program, which spans 65 cities globally, has been recognized by the White House. Her philanthropic journey includes nine years on the DAP Health board of directors, chairing the organization’s 100 Women major donor program, receiving the 2014 Steve Chase Humanitarian Award, and earning the 2023 JFK "Person of Valor" Award. Her unwavering commitment to giving back extends to roles with Palm Springs Art Museum, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Boys & Girls Club, and more.

Michael Kiner is a prominent figure in the Coachella Valley, showcasing not only his award-winning expertise in commercial and residential architecture but his compassion for giving back by contributing his leadership to organizations such as The Living Desert, Desert Cancer Foundation, and DAP Health, where he served as a board member in the ’80s.  He chaired the inaugural Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards in 1994 and the inaugural Desert AIDS Walk, further solidifying his commitment to community involvement.

Andy Linsky’s commitment to community service in Palm Springs spans over three decades, beginning in 1989 when he volunteered at DAP's front desk before joining its board of directors in 1990. Leading the board for five years, Linsky played a pivotal role in significant achievements, including the purchase of the building at 1695 North Sunrise Way, and the development of affordable housing complex Vista Sunrise I. His visionary leadership also led to the creation of the Partners For Life major donor program.

Tori St. Johns, a licensed therapist with 32 years at the Desert Sands Unified School District, is a dedicated advocate for the community, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ students. Her service extends beyond education, with longstanding contributions to DAP Health and various boards, emphasizing her commitment to community health and well-being. She volunteered her services to HIV/AIDS patients at the height of the epidemic, demonstrating her history of dedication to providing vital support to those she serves.

Susan Unger, a key figure in DAP Health's success, served on its board of directors from 2003 to 2008, contributing significantly to crucial initiatives. Notably, in 2008, she founded the groundbreaking 100 Women major donor program, engaging women in supporting DAP Health’s work. Susan’s diverse contributions include leading client focus groups, introducing the Building Connections initiative, and directing the successful Get Tested Coachella Valley public health initiative.

SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Desert Care Network

PRODUCING SPONSORS

Amazon

Harold Matzner

MAJOR SPONSORS

Kevin Bass and Brent Bloesser

Jim Burba and Bob Hayes

Patrick Jordan

Scot and Lance Karp

Barry Manilow and Garry Kief

Steve Tobin and the Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation

STAR SPONSORS

The Hammond Family Foundation

Walgreens

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

Carolyn and Daniel Caldwell

Anthony Colantino and Craig Grantham

Bruce W. Finch and Keith Reimann

Eve E. Fromberg-Edelstein, Esq.

Gilead

Living Out

Steven Anders

The Stonewall Group/Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Trina Turk

David Zippel and Michael Johnston

BENEFACTOR SPONSORS

Coachella Valley Health Personnel

Diageo

Perry S. McKay

PATRON SPONSORS

Inland Empire Health Plan

Low Income Investment Fund

Palm Springs Disposal Services

Personal Stories Project

Henry Schein

UPS Stores

MEDIA SPONSORS  

Alpha Media

CV Independent

Desert Charities News

Gay Desert Guide

GED Magazine

Joey English Radio

Palm Springs Life

The Desert Sun/Local IQ

The Standard Magazine

THE CHASE GALA COMMITTEE

Kevin Bass (Chair)

Michael Brennan

Ron Davis

Grant Elder

Bruce W. Finch

Lynn Hammond

Cary Lowe

Rick Moran

Kasey Scott-Brown

David Sperber

 

DAP Health Continues to Fight for LGBTQ+ …

by Daniel Vaillancourt

DAP Health Continues to Fight for LGBTQ+ Health Equity

 At the 2023 Greater Palm Springs Pride Festival, the organization will celebrate its long history of championing health care access for the queer community.

As it has done since the first Greater Palm Springs Pride in 1986, DAP Health will raise its rainbow flags high in the air and proudly participate in the 37th annual iteration of the event, to be held November 2 to 5.

With the recent integration of Borrego Health, DAP Health’s team now consists of 850 dedicated health care professionals serving 100,000 diverse patients in 240 of Southern California’s rural and urban zip codes, from the Salton Sea to San Diego.

In addition to hosting its DAP Health Wellness Pavilion along Palm Canyon Drive (directly across the street from Lulu California Bistro) — from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4 and from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 5 — more than a hundred of the organization’s employees, patients, donors, volunteers, board members, and other supporters are expected to march shoulder to shoulder in the Sunday morning Pride Parade.

“Participating in Greater Palm Springs Pride is always a personal highlight of the fall season, not just for me, but for everyone who calls DAP Health home in one fashion or another,” says longtime CEO David Brinkman. “At DAP Health, we have always fought for the LGBTQ+ community, championing health care access for nearly four decades. Our acquisition of Borrego Health hasn’t weakened our commitment; it’s fortified our resolve.

“With our expanded size and reach, we pack a mightier punch in our quest for health care justice. Our unified voice, advocating for our communities alongside elected officials, is now louder than ever, and our team of dedicated care providers has grown threefold. We believe health care should know no boundaries. Our goal is to continue to honor the memory of those lost to HIV/AIDS by removing barriers, and by creating a more just world through equitable access.”

Employees from the nonprofit’s 25 clinics will carry signs emblazoned with the name of their home location. Others will carry placards sporting such slogans as “Mental Health is Health Care,” “LGBTQ+ Care is Health Care,” and “Drag is Love” (the catchphrase printed on DAP Health’s official 2023 Pride Parade T-shirt).

Riding in a vehicle just ahead of the group will be Donald Beck, one of the founders of Desert AIDS Project (as the nonprofit was originally known) who is this year’s recipient of Greater Palm Springs Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall Lifetime Achievement Award.

Loudly announcing DAP Health’s presence will be a large assortment of blue/robin’s egg, purple/lavender, and orange/red balloons respectively spelling out the D-A-P of the organization’s acronym and hoisted high above a banner that will read “Together for Better Health,” a nod to DAP Health recently absorbing the Borrego Health system.

Also part of the DAP Health delegation, riding in a vintage convertible in glorious full drag, will be Les Dames du Soleil Dottie & Maude (AKA Douglas Woodmansee and Marshall Pearcy). The tribute is designed to honor the longtime married couple of entertainers — who were at the forefront of early HIV/AIDS efforts, raising much-needed funds for DAP at the dawn of the epidemic, when other resources and supporters were scarce — for their vital role in DAP Health’s history of LGBTQ+ activism.

“Long before our community had the economic and political strength we now proudly possess, before the emergence of LGBTQ+ advocacy or health care organizations, drag queens were tirelessly raising funds for our cause, one dollar at a time,” says DAP Health Chief of Brand Marketing Steven Henke. “They courageously championed our rights and well-being until we found the strength to fight for ourselves. We should never forget the legacy they forged in high heels.”

As for the Wellness Pavilion, it will be staffed with employees and volunteers from DAP Health’s community health department, who will be providing full, free sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, harm reduction services, and general outreach. Representatives will also be talking with attendees about the free pregnancy testing and birth control consultations now available at its sexual wellness clinics.

The Pavilion will also be home to a Recovery Oasis, where revelers can pick up information about DAP Health’s host of recovery services, including various meetings and its Outpatient Drug-Free (ODF ) program.

The 2023 DAP Health Equity Walk Funds Ca …

by Daniel Vaillancourt

The 2023 DAP Health Equity Walk Funds Care for Those Living with HIV

 

The Desert AIDS Walk may have been renamed the Health Equity Walk this year, but the fight against HIV/AIDS will forever be at the heart of the nonprofit’s work. On National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, DAP Health reaffirms its commitment to all those living with the virus.

Earlier this year, the internationally renowned humanitarian health care organization and federally qualified health center (FQHC) whose goal it is to protect and expand health care access for all people — especially the marginalized, regardless of who or where they are, their health status, or whether they have health insurance — made a successful bid to acquire the Borrego Health System, enabling it to now serve more than 100,000 patients of all populations, genders, and ages (from newborns to seniors) at a total of 25 Southern California clinics located within 240 rural and urban zip codes from the Salton Sea to San Diego.

To some, this expansion signals that the organization — founded as Desert AIDS Project in 1984 by a group of community volunteers determined to provide support, care, and treatment options to gay men with HIV who had been ostracized by the mainstream and abandoned by their government — is drifting from its initial mission.

In truth, HIV prevention, testing, and treatment remains as central to DAP Health’s work as it ever has been, and will forever remain so.

Indeed, it is precisely thanks to the nonprofit’s nearly 40 years of experience and proven success in the field of HIV/AIDS that it has been able to thrive and grow as it has. The agency’s hard-won expertise in providing health care to one marginalized community has permitted it to transfer its unique, patient-centered model of care to a vast array of other such groups, including women, people of color, the poor, the undocumented, those with substance use disorder, and more.

By standing on the shoulders of all those lost to HIV/AIDS, and all those living and aging well with the virus today, DAP Health’s broadened mission remains perfectly in line with that of its founders, whose singular goal was to provide for those dismissed by the mainstream. Expanding health care access is just one of the ways DAP Health honors the memory of those lost to HIV/AIDS.

“While I may consider myself to be somewhat of an open book, I realize most people don’t know I once experienced the stigma and shame of being gay, that I live today with HIV, that I once was unhoused, and that I long ago faced mental health issues,” says DAP Health Chief of Community Health C.J. Tobe. “I am a survivor who is as thankful as I am excited about the tremendous impending expansion of our community health department. I believe it is my and my team’s duty and privilege to advocate and fight daily on behalf of every member of our diverse communities — but especially for those who are LGBTQ+ and/or living with HIV — so that they may get the second, third, and fourth chances I received, which enabled me to see my bright future and to live my happiest and healthiest life.”

Just some of the ways in which DAP Health daily confirms its commitment to those living with HIV — while honoring the memory of the millions who have succumbed to the disease in the last four decades — include:

  • Providing free HIV testing and treatment (such as Rapid StART antiretroviral therapy) plus free access to preventive measures (such as PrEP and PEP) not only at its sexual wellness clinics in Palm Springs and Indio (and soon at the Stonewall Medical Center in Cathedral City) but via its mobile clinic’s presence throughout the Coachella Valley.
  • Delivering primary, mental health, and HIV care to people living with the virus.
  • Offering a host of client wellness initiatives and other social services — including affordable housing at our 81-unit, on-campus Vista Sunrise complex at DAP Health Sunrise — to clients with HIV/AIDS.
  • Serving as the co-presenting sponsor of the Positively Aging Project, the eighth annual Coachella Valley conference on HIV and aging presented as a hybrid gathering (in person at the Mizell Center and virtually via Zoom) on September 23, 2023.
  • Donating $50,000 to the AIDS Memorial Sculpture created by acclaimed artist Phillip K. Smith III, which will be prominently displayed at Palm Springs’ Downtown Park located at Belardo Road and Museum Way.

At its 2023 Health Equity Walk — which kicks off at 9:00 a.m. at Palm Springs’ Ruth Hardy Park on Saturday, October 28, 2023 — DAP Health will honor long-term HIV survivors and those lost to AIDS via:

  • A special tribute performance by the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus.
  • The observance of a minute of silence.
  • A memorial pavilion where Health Equity Walk participants and supporters can display photos of loved ones living with, or lost to, HIV/AIDS.
  • The display, at the pavilion, of two AIDS quilts, one of which is made of 20 vintage Desert AIDS Walk T-shirts.
  • A keynote address by DAP Health CEO David Brinkman about what loss has taught us. 
  • A ribbon-cutting by DAP Health’s Community Advisory Board, made up of long-term HIV/AIDS survivors.

“The mission, vision, and purpose of DAP Health’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) is to advocate for its clients and patients while considering diversity, equity, and inclusion,” says CAB Co-Chair Michael O’Neill. “We CAB members congratulate the organization’s staff and leadership on its 2023 Health Equity Walk, which continues the commitment to existing and identified needs while expanding the lens throughout Southern California. This act of ‘paying it forward’ includes those often ignored or forgotten, giving everyone a place to be honored and embraced. We stand completely by this greater care and respect for all, marching alongside DAP Health with pride.”

For more information about DAP Health’s efforts on behalf of all those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, please contact Chief of Brand Marketing Steven Henke at 760.656.8401 or [email protected].