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Meet DAP Health Chief Medical Officer Dr …

Semper Gumby

In English, the Latin unofficial motto of the U.S. Navy translates as “Always Flexible.” It perfectly describes DAP Health’s new Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Aquilina

Words by Kay Kudukis

His parents were first-generation Sicilian-American, so of course the entire family went to Grandma’s house for Sunday sauce. It was a nice break from the other six days when, evenings and after school, the three kids helped Mom and Dad in the family’s cleaning business. Cleaning neither garments nor houses. Car dealerships and fitness centers — any business in Buffalo that hired them. In addition, Dad worked two more jobs hoping to give his kids a better version of the American dream than his.

Joseph Aquilina, the only boy, a middle child, took up trombone and football. Maybe because he had an interest, or maybe because after school extracurriculars were more fun than cleaning. But he was drawn to the social aspects, the camaraderie. He even ended up combining both activities when the band performed at Rich Stadium for a Buffalo Bills game. Quite a score for the teenager.

Young Joe played offensive guard and defensive end in high school football. Generally, those positions had a heavier body type than that of Aquilina, who’d grown tall but not thick. His build was more like a quarterback, or a tennis player. He picked up the racket when he was stationed in London, but more on that later.

Because of his size, Joe worked harder to stay on the team, and can still recall the fantastic feeling at homecoming when they called his name: “Playing first string, defensive end, Joseph Aquilina.”

 

College Bound

Some plan their post-secondary life and know exactly where they’ll be after their senior summer. Others haven’t a clue. Aquilina fell into the latter category. He thought he might like to go to college — that’s what all the kids in his honors classes were doing — but he didn’t quite know how he was going to do that. His sister had been the first of any generation to attend college, but she stayed local. He did not want to do that.

His parents didn’t have the knowledge or funds to assist, so he relied on his friends for help and ideas. The University of Rochester came up, so he applied and received academic scholarships. Bonus: It was 90 miles away from Buffalo. Far enough away to live on campus, yet close enough to bring his laundry home on the weekends. “I thought I was busting out,” Aquilina says with a laugh.

He loved Rochester. “I had such a sense of independence. You can control your own schedule. I got my first non-family job at the Fine Arts Library. It was wonderful. I was a gallery guard. I could do my homework, watch the art exhibit, make sure no one touched anything, and get paid to study.”

 

Life in the Lab Was Too Boring

He chose microbiology as a major, but discovered the monotony of the lab didn’t really suit him. That was a problem. One day, a solution walked in: Urologist Dr. Bob, who came to take his wife (head of the lab) to lunch. “He was an affable, gregarious, fun guy,” Aquilina recalls. “And I just asked, ‘Hey, Dr. Bob. Can I join you one day, kind of see what your day is like?’”

Dr. Bob was equally as affable at work with patients, nurses, and staff. “Everybody knew and liked him. I thought, ‘I could do this,’” Aquilina grins, remembering. “It just seemed like a very social, fun job, and he really enjoyed it. So I thought maybe I should consider medical school. I had no idea what that meant.”

His counselor knew, and the news was good. Aquilina already had most of the credits needed. He just had to take the MCAT. His score did not disappoint. He was going to be a doctor!

 

In the Navy

His father wanted to mortgage the family home to pay for it, which terrified Aquilina. “What if I fail? Then he’s gonna lose the house. No way.” He had friends in ROTC at Rochester. “I thought, ‘Well, they seem like they’re happy.’” He cold-called the Navy. The recruiter couldn’t believe his luck. “Yes, we’ll absolutely pay for medical school. When can you start?”

Aquilina graduated from Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago in May of 1994. In July of 1995, he reported for flight surgeon training at Naval Operational Medicine Institute in Pensacola.

For the two years he worked as a flight surgeon, he was deployed for six months on the USS Tarawa, attended to 500 Marine flyers, got a pilot’s license, and logged more than 300 flight hours in a CH46 helicopter.

He got married, they had twin daughters, and he continued to move up in positions and responsibilities within the Navy’s medical sector. That included three years in the U.K., and six months deployed in Kuwait before returning to San Diego. There he earned his MBA, explored his tech fascination with a “side hustle” in dental charting software while concurrently wrapping up his 22 years of service as the director of outpatient health clinics.

 

In Uniform No More

Now both single and a civilian, Aquilina was ready to explore different opportunities. He worked in business development for a year, then shifted back to a team environment overseeing larger medical groups and implementing new initiatives.

For eight years, he served on the board of Glenner Memory Care Centers, specializing in adult day care centers and family resources, becoming well-versed in the workings of nonprofits.

If you peep his social media, you’ll see his playful side: goofy pictures with his kids, visits to tennis matches, and adventures in sailing. In 2014, he met his now fiancé, a concierge physician in San Diego. Last summer, Dr. Joe was a tennis coach for the Special Olympics. 

 

At Long Last, DAP Health

When he learned of DAP Health’s merger with Borrego Health, he saw a unique opportunity. “It’s a beautiful mission, and that was a huge attraction for me,” he says. “It seemed like an organization that really lived its values, which was really, really enticing.”

Right now, he splits his time between San Diego and Palm Springs, and his personal needs are simple: tennis partners. He says he ranks himself a solid 4.0, but “I will play whenever, wherever, with whomever.” 

Semper Gumby.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About …

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Injectable PrEP to Prevent HIV

Words by Daniel Hirsch

When it first came out in 2012, Truvada — the first-to-market pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) to prevent HIV — was a gamechanger. Since then, the CDC reports that more than 300,000 people in the U.S. take PrEP in the form of a daily pill. The FDA also ultimately approved both generic Truvada and a gentler-on-the-kidneys PrEP medication known as Descovy. In 2022, a new player hit the field: Apretude, a brand of longer-lasting injectable PrEP.

To learn more about injectable PrEP, I spoke with DAP Health PrEP Navigation Manager Andrew Glorioso, who has worked in HIV care for 25 years, and who has lived with HIV for even longer.

What is Apretude?

Apretude is an injectable medication that’s used to prevent someone from acquiring HIV. It involves coming to the clinic once every two months for an injection.

What’s the benefit of injectable PrEP over taking a pill? Isn’t oral PrEP enough?

It’s all about lifestyle and being able to provide more options. There was a time when all we had to provide people were condoms. Then we got PrEP. We’ve been continuing to expand what’s available.

Both oral and injectable PrEP protect against HIV with the same level of efficacy — both are 99.9% effective [if taken as prescribed]. However, what Apretude has is the benefit of medication adherence. People who are on oral medication are taking one pill once a day, but are they really taking it once a day? Having to come into the clinic every two months for Apretude actually helps with medical adherence.

Who exactly is injectable PrEP for?

It can help people in situations where it’s difficult to adhere to a regimen. It’s not a one size fits all kind of thing. It takes talking to each individual and determining what makes sense based on their lifestyle. We deal with lots of individuals who may have mental health, substance use, or housing stability issues. Apretude might be a great option because they don’t have to worry about storing their medication or keeping track of pills.

Also, if somebody comes in and they’re interested in Apretude, one of the first things I ask them is: How do you feel about getting a shot? If you really don’t like needles, Apretude is not the thing for you.

Do the shots hurt? Are there any other side effects?

It’s a regular-gauge shot. It’s not like a little pin prick in the shoulder. Some people have reported having injection-site soreness for a couple of days and maybe a little nodule developing under the skin. So, it’s not completely without its possibility of adverse effects. That said, we also have people who are using Apretude and love it. They love knowing they don’t have to worry about taking their PrEP for two months.

Is injectable PrEP more expensive? Is it covered by insurance?

Our ability to get Apretude for individuals depends greatly on the type of health care coverage they have. If somebody is on the state’s Medicaid program (MediCal), or IEHP out here in the Coachella Valley, those programs actually give individuals the option of injectable or oral PrEP, so it’s great. Medicare will cover both versions of PrEP. For people who have private insurance, it depends on the plan. And then for people who are uninsured, we don’t really have a mechanism right now to get them access to Apretude. We can easily get them access to oral PrEP medication for little to no cost. Anybody who wants PrEP can be on oral PrEP. All they have to do is visit Injectable PrEP - DAP Health to make an appointment to see me or one of my colleagues in the PrEP Navigation department.

Meet DAP Health CEO David Brinkman

Once Upon a Time in Iowa: A Profile of DAP Health CEO David Brinkman

In a new, ongoing series, writer Kay Kudukis profiles the executive and senior leaders who have found their mission match at DAP Health.

 

“I’m from Iowa, we don’t know what cool is.” ~ Ashton Kutcher

 

DAP Health CEO David Brinkman is a fifth-generation Iowan who actually is cool, Ashton.

His father was an endocrinologist. Mom was not only a nurse but executive director of a women’s health organization. Involved in the women’s rights movement her entire career, she also served on a committee approving FDA medical devices.

Sundays, she took the three kids to church while Dad visited the forgotten in local nursing homes. That was his church, and he never missed a Sunday. Both parents gave of themselves tirelessly, instilling those values in their brood.

Thirteen-year-old Brinkman didn’t exactly know he was gay, but he was a fashionista — side note: he’s still got it — with a pension for dying his hair colors not found in nature. Dad surmised his son might not survive tiny-town high school. ‘Out’ didn’t exist in Mason City, but surprisingly it did at Shattuck-St. Mary’s Episcopal Boarding School in Faribault, Minnesota, where Brinkman was sent to receive his secondary education. With only eight students to a classroom, you couldn’t hide in the back. Brinkman had a best friend named Megan, whose father was gay and out.

There was also the gay boy across the hall, who’d pester him with “You’re gay, Brinkman. Admit it!” Brinkman never did. Maybe that was confusion, but it was definitely influenced by the sounds of the beatings the other boys gave the gay one. That he never did anything to help that kindred spirit agonized Brinkman for years, until he finally tracked his former classmate down. There was grace and understanding on the other end of the line: “I would have done the same thing.”

 

The Birth of an Activist

The Lewis & Clark College campus in Oregon was a beehive of activism. Brinkman led the student LGBTQ organization for his four years, majoring in sociology and anthropology, minoring in gender studies. He came out to his parents, then promptly had his first panic attack. He felt lost. It was the early nineties. His community was dying. He was afraid for them. And for himself. Sophomore year, he fought for his rights in response to a statewide ballot initiative to outlaw homosexuality. “Run to the front line, son,” his parents suggested. “Do not back away. When whatever happens, happens — you want to be there.”

So, he did, applying at the Cascade AIDS Project for the only job available: condom fairy. Late nights spent at bathhouses distributing condoms and literature had its moments, but didn’t pay the bills. Two other hourly jobs — running a support group at Harry’s Mother, a homeless youth organization, and running another for LGBT kids at the Urban League of Portland, weren’t much help. And sleep? What was that?

Brinkman wanted to stay on the front line at Cascade AIDS, so he took a 40-hour-a-week salaried position: case manager. Every week, two or three clients died. His psyche couldn’t handle this reality, and when he wasn’t working, he was depressed.

He eventually stopped caring about himself altogether. His friend, an undergrad in psychology, recognized the once tireless activist’s darkness. “You can’t do this anymore, David,” she said. “It’s affecting your health. You have to leave.”

Brinkman informed his boss, Susan Stoltenberg, who gave him not a lifeline but, as it turned out, his life’s work. “You’re smart, dedicated, and charming AF,” she said. “You’d be great at fundraising.” She taught him the ropes, took him to benefits at wealthy gay men’s homes, and together they watched the donations come pouring in.

 

Finding His Groove Leading Nonprofits

The next step was to lead the charge, so Brinkman got his MBA at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School in Los Angeles, with an emphasis in ethical business management. He was now armed and ready.

He spent four years as executive director at My Friend’s Place, a nonprofit for homeless kids in L.A., but when the executive director position opened up at what was then known as Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs, it was as if everything Brinkman had done in his life up until that point had led him to this. Except he almost didn’t get the gig.

It was at his fifth “audition” dinner with the board of directors that a member questioned their responsibility to write personal checks to DAP. Brinkman stated in no uncertain terms that he believed members of the community would only make contributions to the nonprofit if they firmly understood the board was similarly invested — that each of its members had skin in the game. “If you don’t believe in that,” Brinkman told the group, “then I’m not the executive director for you.”

Every board member voted Brinkman in. Except for that skinless square peg, who resigned. That was 17 years ago.

 

Three Marvelous Humans

Through DAP Health, Brinkman has met many a marvelous human, but three get a shout-out here. The first, Marvin Sholl, proclaimed himself Brinkman’s “West Coast dad,” and 12 years ago, over dinner, said, “David! Ruthie and I love you. But we need to tell you…” Long pause for dramatic effect. “There’s another man in our lives.”

Brinkman waited for a punchline that never came. “This man is your husband,” Sholl continued. “You have yet to meet, but for two years, Ruthie and I have been preparing.”

The next evening, Dr. Will Grimm walked into Barry Manilow’s Gift of Love concert at the McCallum Theatre for his blind date with Brinkman, and fairy dust appeared anywhere the good doctor was. It danced from his fingertips, and when he spoke, it came out of his mouth like cartoon music from a saxophone. The men married in 2019. So, there you have Marvelous Human Shout-Out Number Two.

Number Three is a Ugandan physician working for UNAIDS in Rwanda four years ago, when Brinkman was part of a DAP delegation presenting at an international AIDS conference in Kigali. The man goes by Musah Lumumba because to say his real name would be catastrophic for him and for those he loves.

He and Brinkman spoke this past Ramadan, while Lumumba was in the streets serving the hungry. He said something that skyrocketed across the Atlantic ocean and two continents, piercing Brinkman’s core existence. “David,” he said, “the reason you and I are alive today is to address the issues our communities are facing today.”

That, Brinkman says, is the why of it all. “It’s why DAP was founded,” he says. “It’s why Borrego Health was acquired. And it’s why I came into work today.”

Your move, Kutcher!

Urgent Care vs. ER

Knowing when to go where can make a world of difference.

Words by Daniel Vaillancourt

In the realm of health care, knowing when to seek urgent care (AKA immediate care) or head straight to the emergency room can be crucial for timely and effective treatment. Both urgent care centers and ERs serve distinct purposes, and understanding the differences can help you make informed decisions about where to seek medical attention.

 

Urgent Care: Swift Solutions for Minor Ailments

Urgent care centers are designed to handle non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries promptly. They’re ideal for situations where immediate attention is necessary but doesn’t require the full-scale resources of an ER. Common issues treated at urgent care include minor cuts, sprains, colds, flu, and infections. Additionally, urgent care is a suitable option for conditions like mild asthma attacks or minor allergic reactions.

One key advantage of urgent care is accessibility. These centers typically offer extended hours, including evenings and weekends, making them a convenient choice for those seeking prompt medical attention without having to schedule an appointment. Moreover, the cost of care at an urgent care facility is generally lower than that of an emergency room, making it a cost-effective option for non-emergent situations.

 

Emergency Room: Critical Care for Life-Threatening Situations

The ER is reserved for serious, life-threatening conditions that demand immediate attention and a higher level of care. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden and severe pain, or signs of a stroke, it’s imperative to head to the emergency room without delay.

Emergency rooms are equipped with specialized staff, advanced diagnostic tools, and resources to handle critical situations. They provide a wide range of services, including trauma care, surgical interventions, and treatment for severe illnesses. Time is of the essence in emergencies, and the ER is designed to provide swift and comprehensive care to stabilize patients and address urgent medical issues.

 

When to Choose Urgent Care vs. the ER

Understanding when to opt for urgent care versus the emergency room can save time and resources while ensuring you receive the most appropriate care for your condition. Here are some guidelines to help you make the right decision:

 

Urgent Care

Minor injuries and illnesses

Common cold, flu, and fever

Minor cuts and burns

Sprains and strains

Mild allergic reactions

 

ER

Chest pain and difficulty breathing

Severe injuries, fractures, or head injuries

Sudden and severe abdominal pain

Signs of a stroke (sudden numbness, confusion, trouble speaking)

Loss of consciousness or severe dehydration

 

In case of doubt, it’s essential to prioritize your safety and seek immediate medical attention. If you’re unsure whether your condition is an emergency, it’s better to err on the side of caution and go straight to the ER.

By recognizing the appropriate setting for your medical concern, you can ensure timely and effective care, promoting better health outcomes.

Click here to see DAP Health's four urgent care locations.

Dr. Joseph Cerjan Named Permanent Princi …

Dr. Joseph Cerjan Named Permanent Principal Provider at DAP Health's Borrego Medical Clinic  

The bilingual physician, eager to serve patients in Borrego Springs and the surrounding areas, fills a long-vacant role, bringing a sense of permanence and stability.

Words by Daniel Vaillancourt

 

Dr. Joseph Cerjan — a physician with more than 30 years of experience in a variety of settings, who is fluent in both English and Spanish — has been hired to fulfill the long-vacant role of permanent principal medical provider at DAP Health’s Borrego Medical Clinic.

In that capacity, he will oversee disciplines such as family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health (including OB-GYN), behavioral health, and sexual wellness at the center, located at 4343 Yaqui Pass Road in Borrego Springs, California.

“The people in and around Borrego Springs have long needed and deserved a permanent medical provider whom they can grow to trust, admire, and appreciate,” says DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. “Thanks to his deep well of professional expertise and his wide array of real-life experiences, I believe Dr. Cerjan is the perfect physician to help eradicate barriers to care while broadening programs and services. All of us at DAP Health — and every member of the communities we serve in Borrego Springs — are fortunate to have found him.”

It is with great enthusiasm that Dr. Cerjan looks forward to serving at Borrego Medical Clinic. “I don’t really see myself as a seed that’s being planted,” he says. “I’m a tree that’s being grafted. It has to be pruned, branch out, and hopefully produce the fruit — the benefits to everyone — that we’re hoping for. We’re establishing continuity of care for the area’s patients. Expanding some services. It’s going to be a fun challenge. Personally, this might be the seventh or eighth inning for me, but it might be the best part of my game.”

 

About Dr. Joseph Cerjan

Dr. Joseph Cerjan (sir-JAHN) is a seasoned physician with a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he has dedicated his life to providing exemplary medical care and service to communities across the United States and beyond.

He began his academic journey at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he pursued a B.A. in biochemistry. During his undergraduate years, he received prestigious honors, including membership in Bucket and Dipper, the freshmen men’s honorary, and Romophos, the sophomore men’s honorary.

Eager to expand his horizons, Dr. Cerjan pursued his medical education at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, graduating with distinction in 1981. Following medical school, he completed several postgraduate years, including internship, social service, and externship, further honing his skills and knowledge.

Dr. Cerjan continued his training with a residency at University Hospital, University of Cincinnati, where he served as chief resident in his final year. Board-certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians since 1989, the good doctor has maintained an active and unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Cerjan has held various positions in prestigious medical institutions, including the Share Reese Stealy Medical Group in San Diego, and the Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, Arizona, where he served in the department of emergency medicine for an impressive 26 years.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Cerjan has demonstrated a passion for serving underserved populations, including periods as the house physician at the Fresno County Jail and as a physician at California’s Chuckwalla Valley State Prison.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Cerjan is dedicated to breaking down language barriers to ensure the highest quality of care for all patients. His commitment to medicine is underscored by his active licensure in Arizona and California, as well as his current ACLS certification. With a wealth of experience and a compassionate approach to patient care, he continues to make a profound impact on the field of medicine, enriching the lives of those he serves.

Safety First – DAP Health’s Harm Red …

Photo: Alexis Molina, DAP Health Community Health Worker (left) and Manny Muro, DAP Health Community Health Diagnostic Testing & Outreach Supervisor (right)

Safety First – DAP Health’s Harm Reduction Team Returns to Coachella

DAP Health's Harm Reduction team returned to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for the second year in a row to keep revelers healthy and informed at select shuttle stops in Palm Springs.  

Festivals are a time for fun and adventure, but it's no secret that when substances are involved, things can sometimes quickly go south. Aimed at preventing and reversing overdoses, DAP Health’s Harm Reduction program takes a hands-on approach when it comes to keeping our desert communities and visitors safe from preventable incidents.  

Standing in the blazing sun in near-100-degree heat, the Harm Reduction team stayed committed to saving lives. It distributed a total of 768 doses of Narcan (the brand name for the nasal spray formulation of naloxone, known to temporarily reverse opioid overdose) and 300 fentanyl testing strip kits over the course of the two festival weekends, empowering more than a thousand festivalgoers to make informed choices and have a safer Coachella experience. 

Last year, the team distributed 422 fentanyl testing strip kits and 286 Narcan sprays. 

DAP Health's Harm Reduction program goes beyond just Coachella. It enables people to use substances more safely through education and connection to care year-round, allowing them to live their healthiest life. 

Play Smart, Stay Alive: To learn more about DAP Health’s Harm Reduction program, please click here.   

DoxyPEP 101

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About DoxyPEP

Words by Daniel Hirsch

 

A hefty dose of antibiotics. A big syringe in the derrière. Getting treated for an STI is not fun — to say nothing of the symptoms and risks involved with contracting one like syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. With the CDC reporting rising numbers — gonorrhea is up 11% over the last five years, syphilis is up 79% — risk of infection is on the rise.

However, clinicians around the country, spurred by recently released guidance from the CDC, are recommending the antibiotic doxycycline as a means of post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP for short) to prevent the spread of STIs. I spoke with DAP Health Chief Transformation Officer C.J. Tobe about this prevention strategy.

 

Let’s start with the basics. What is DoxyPEP?

DoxyPEP is two 100-milligram pills of doxycycline that can be taken within 24 to 72 hours after sex. It reduces a person’s chance of contracting either chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis by up to 70%. Doxycycline has been around for quite some time and is used to treat STIs and acne.

How sexually active do you need to be to justify a prescription?

It’s going to look different depending on a person’s lifestyle and the conversation with their provider. For example, if you have sex Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you can take DoxyPEP that Monday morning and you’re good.

Are there side effects? Isn’t doxy tough on the GI tract?

A lot of the side effects that get reported are GI issues. So we recommend people take the medication with food or a carbonated drink.

One of my worst nightmares, and it’s one shared by the World Health Organization, is that an STI becomes resistant to antibiotics. Is that a concern with people regularly taking doxy?

Part of the medical community is hesitant to embrace this strategy because they don’t know what could happen in terms of drug resistance. The other half are saying, “We need to get people on it right now because it’s an important preventative tool.” There’s always going to be a risk of drug resistance when people don’t follow the dosing recommendation of a doctor. As a public health person seeing the rise in STIs, I think a patient who is having sex should have that conversation with their doctor and see if DoxyPEP is right for them. Personally, I’ve been on doxy since 2020 and it’s been a lifesaver.

 

If you would like to speak to a DAP Health sexual wellness clinician about a DoxyPEP prescription, please click here.

Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs …

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 …

$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.”

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:

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

                         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.