Introduction

The AIDS Education and Training Centers [AETC] National Resource Center (NRC) is pleased to present on its web site the 2001 Registry of AIDS Education and Training Centers. This second edition of the National Registry lists the fourteen AETCs, four national centers and more than 120 local performance sites. The centers listed here represent all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Fifty-five U.S. universities are participating in the program. The web version of the Registry is adopted from the print version originally distributed by the University of South Florida. In August, 2000 the National Resource Center (NRC) agreed to maintain the Registry; print versions will be produced subject to the availability of funds.

PURPOSE

This Registry is a reference guide to federally funded AIDS education and training services available throughout the United States. As a comprehensive directory, it will be useful in helping health care providers locate consultation and continuing education programs offering state-of-the-art knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS treatment. The Registry includes a graphic for locating programs by state.

The National Registry was created for health care professionals providing care to HIV-infected individuals and those at risk. It is intended to help these service providers locate training opportunities designed to improve and maintain their ability to treat persons affected by HIV and AIDS. It is expected that others, including state and federal legislators, governmental agency staff, students, faculty, and vendors interested in HIV education will also find the National Registry to be valuable. Researchers, librarians, and advocates in the field can feel confident that the directory is the most complete and up-to-date compendium of AIDS education and training programs.

The Registry provides current information about the breadth and scope of HIV/AIDS educational resources available to healthcare providers nationwide. It will help to increase the ability of primary care providers and students in the field to identify and to meet their HIV-related training needs and to deliver more effective treatments.

ABOUT THE AETCs

The AETCs are a national network of programs that collaborate with local community-based organizations to ensure that HIV/AIDS care providers have access to a wide range of treatment information. The centers are supported by the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. This Federal funding is administered by the HIV/AIDS Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Based in leading academic centers across the country, the AETCs use nationally recognized faculty and HIV researchers in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the education and training offered. The AETCs offer specialized clinical education and consultation covering essential up-to-date information on the transmission, treatment, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. The education is provided in a variety of formats including workshops, hands-on supervised clinical training, and specialty conferences. Medical faculty also provide timely clinical consultation in person, or via the telephone or internet.

Since the first AIDS cases were identified, knowledge of the disease and its treatment has increased exponentially. The AETC program was designed to improve dissemination of new information to America's HIV/AIDS care providers to ensure that they are well-trained and educated about state-of the-art care and treatment. The AETCs offer front-line healthcare providers including physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dentists and pharmacists the very latest in AIDS education and training so that they can give their patients the best care possible.

The National Association of AIDS Education and Training Centers notes that HIV-positive persons who obtain medical services from experienced HIV providers have improved clinical outcomes and reduced mortality. The AETCs have trained these experienced HIV providers for more than a decade.

Training is designed following an assessment of local needs. The AETCs recognize that the HIV/ AIDS epidemic is growing among traditionally under-served and hard-to-reach populations and that the quality of emerging HIV/AIDS treatments can make a difference in the lives of people living with HIV disease. Therefore, special emphasis is placed on training Ryan White funded providers and those who are located in community-based organizations including rural healthcare facilities, community and migrant health centers, public health clinics, AIDS service organizations, correctional facilities, and other nonprofit organizations. The program places emphasis on reaching healthcare providers serving minority and poor populations that are now increasingly affected by HIV.

The AIDS Education and Training Centers consist of 13 university-based programs, and one hospital-based center. They conduct targeted, multidisciplinary education and training for health care providers through a nationwide network of universities and associated organizations. This effective infrastructure is used to disseminate clinical knowledge, emerging treatment guidelines, and to provide rapid responses to the ever-changing nature of the HIV epidemic.

The HRSA-funded prime contractors are located at:

Columbia University, New York;
Emory University, Atlanta;
Louisiana State University, New Orleans;
Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas;
University of California, San Francisco;
University of Colorado, Denver;
University of Illinois, Chicago;
University of Massachusetts, Brookline;
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark;
University of Pittsburgh;
University of Puerto Rico, San Juan;
University of South Florida, Tampa;
University of Washington, Seattle;
Wayne State University, Detroit.

In addition, the AETC National Resource Center is located at Johns Hopkins University, the National Evaluation AETC is located at Columbia University, and the National Minority AETC is located at Howard University.

The AETCs have provided up-to-date HIV/AIDS education for thousands of care providers, especially those serving rural and other hard-to-reach individuals who are most in need of care. Since 1987, more than 1,000,000 HIV/AIDS care providers have been trained through the AETC Program.

REGISTRANT INFORMATION

The program information included in this registry was submitted by the director of each AETC. The following is an outline of the basic and identifying information, which is included for each program and major subcontractor.

1. Program name;
2. Director: name, degree, title;
3. Coordinator/administrator: name, degree, title;
4. Department and College;
5. University;
6. Address;
7. Phone and fax;
8. E-mail address;
9. Website URL.

The web version of the Registry also contains information on "Unique/Special Services" and "Requests for services" for those AETCs which had previously volunteered this information to the NRC.

Substantial efforts have been made to assure the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in the Registry. All AETCs are asked to inform us immediately of any errors or changes in their listing information. We would also appreciate receiving the comments and suggestions of AETCs and users of the National Registry. The information received will help to make the next edition an even more valuable tool. All correction, changes and comments may be e-mailed to: aetc_nrc@jhmi.edu or sent to:

            The AETC National Resource Center
            Johns Hopkins Infectious Diseases
            2700 Lighthouse Point, Suite 220
            Baltimore, Maryland  21224

The maintenance of the Registry and the current print publication of the registry are funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration HIV/AIDS Bureau.

Richard Dunning, Co-Editor
AETC National Resource Center, The Johns Hopkins University

Michael D. Knox, Ph.D., Co-Editor
Florida AETC, University of South Florida