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Date of Report:
05/2008
Source:
Texas/Oklahoma AETC
There are a growing number of women affected by the HIV epidemic, with trends noted in younger populations and racial/ethnic minorities. As a result, the need for specific clinical education about women has become clear. In 2003, the Texas/Oklahoma AETC (TX/OK AETC) responded to this by gathering information from local and national experts and a review of the medical literature. Soon to follow was the First Annual Women and HIV Symposium, conducted in 2004. This symposium, designed by a multidisciplinary team of Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Infectious Diseases, and Pediatric faculty and providers, updated healthcare providers on the delivery of state-of-the-art care to HIV-infected women throughout their life span. More than 20 topics were covered in this event through presentations and scientific posters.
Evaluations indicated that positive changes in practice were made by some participants after attending this event. It was clear that this event met the growing need that has emerged with the shift in the trend of the epidemic.
In 2005, investigators showed increased interest in presenting their own research to the participants. A scientific subcommittee was created to invite and review poster submissions. Considering this interest in scientific abstracts, as well as the notable impact of this epidemic in women beyond the United States, it was decided that the name of the conference be changed to reflect both its scientific nature and global application. Thus, in 2006, the Women and HIV International Clinical Conference (WHICC) was born.
Based on evaluations from the 2006 conference and with input from experts in national and international agencies, the 2007 planning committee identified several biomedical and psychosocial topics to be added to the conference agenda; thus the first dual track conference was developed for 2007. Evaluations indicated that 78 percent of attendees intended to change the way they provide services to women living with HIV/AIDS. The evaluations also reflected a continued interest in scientific and social topics and a new interest in advocacy and support topics. Therefore, in collaboration with amfAR, Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC), I-TECH, and private industry supporters, a track that addressed policy and advocacy was added in 2008.
With the support of the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a webcast of the general sessions of the 2008 conference was provided to reach providers in resource-limited agencies in the U.S. and abroad. As the HIV epidemic evolves among women, so does the need to provide high quality, state-of-the art education to those who provide care to this population. The TX/OK AETC is committed to providing this educational opportunity through WHICC. For more information about WHICC 2008, visit the following website:
aidseducation.cmiregistration.com/default.aspx
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