|
Date of Report:
08/2008
Source:
Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center (MATEC)
In 1987, six years into the epidemic, it seemed high time to establish a systematic network of provider education around HIV and AIDS. At the midwestern university hospital where I worked, the few staff members who had a bit of HIV knowledge were considered experts and were sought after by many institutional and community forums to provide education and training. This was not enough to meet the needs of staff and providers.
When we first developed the Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center (MATEC) in 1988, we took advantage of existing networks of health provider organizations and the sprinkling of over-taxed efforts in existence. MATEC pulled together experts in six states, creating a regional program that linked providers who knew each other into a network for sharing information, curricula, and training methods. Looking back, our basic model of one local site in each state (supplemented by local experts and interaction between these sites) has served us well. In fact, it is one of the hallmarks of MATEC and no doubt other AETCs. We are a unique hybrid of locally measured needs and desires with local and regional expertise coming to the community to build capacity. We are highly shaped by the external environment of federal funding and our interactions with the rest of the AETC network.
Today, MATEC covers seven states and we are celebrating 20 years of HIV education. Of course in 1988, we were optimistic that the epidemic would last a short time and the need for ongoing provider education would prove temporary, so celebrating twenty years of training is rather bittersweet. We are proud and excited that we are recognized as the premier HIV education program in our region, but sad that the epidemic continues to increase and that care, support, and prevention continue to present new challenges requiring novel educational content and approaches.
Our celebration is about the commitment of providers who extend quality care in times when resources require creative stretching to meet needs. MATEC is fortunate that we share resources with the Great Lakes Addictions Technology Transfer Center (ATTC). The Great Lakes ATTC is celebrating 10 years of service as we are celebrating our 20 year turning point.
Each of our local performance sites is developing a key program to celebrate our 20 years. The first event was held in Traverse City, Michigan in May. Information about highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the medicine wheel attracted providers serving the American Indian communities in the Midwest for a training that crossed cultures in many ways. In Iowa, the 20th anniversary was acknowledged as part of a large Infection Control conference and highlighted with a dental presentation by a MATEC faculty member. Our Illinois Site will host the second Committed to Caring Symposium on November 20th and 21st to support African American and Latino providers who currently care for HIV/AIDS patients or are interested in pursuing this important area of clinical medicine. The symposium will also include our regional anniversary celebration highlighted by a presentation about HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and minority communities by Dr. Beny Primm.
We are only too aware that the job of educating HIV providers continues on as we enter our third decade as an AETC. However, we continue to see education as the best hope in terms of improving capacity for prevention and care. We are proud that our programs make a difference to communities, to providers, and to those living with HIV.
|
