HIV Clinical Training Tracks in Primary Care Residency Programs - Project Title: STRIVE (Specialized Training in Residency for HIV Excellence) Address: 405 Belcher Street, Centreville, AL 35042-2946 Project Director Name: Dr. John B. Waits, MD, CPE, FAAFP Contact Phone Numbers (Voice): (205) 312-8080 (Fax): (205) 316-7675 Email Address: john.waits@cahabamedicalcare.com Website Address, if applicable: www.cahabamedicalcare.com List all grant program funds requested in the application, if applicable: HTR Program Funding Preference Requested Summary: The Cahaba Medical Care Foundation (CMC) proposes the HIV Clinical Training Program for Primary Care Physicians (HTR Program) to address significant gaps in HIV care and treatment in underserved communities throughout the United States. This project aims to enhance the competency of family medicine residents, nurse practitioner residents, and pharmacy residents in providing high-quality, culturally competent HIV care. Needs to Be Addressed: Many parts of the United States, including the state of Alabama, continues to face high rates of HIV prevalence with limited access to specialized HIV care. Stigma, lack of anonymity, and insufficient training for healthcare providers exacerbate these issues, leading to inadequate care and management for individuals living with HIV, especially among minority populations. Proposed Services: The HTR Program will implement a comprehensive training curriculum, developed in consultation with HIV care experts and instructional design experts, to provide residents with foundational and evidence-based medical knowledge and up-to-date clinical practices in HIV treatment and management. This curriculum includes online instructional materials in partnership with MedMastery. Additionally, residents will gain practical experience through integration into an interdisciplinary HIV clinic, allowing them to work alongside experienced HIV care providers, social workers, pharmacists, and mental health professionals. The program will also
facilitate subspecialty rotations with Infectious Disease and HIV specialists to address co-infections, particularly Hepatitis B and C. Population Groups to Be Served: The primary beneficiaries of this program are minority individuals and Native Americans with HIV or at increased risk, residing in the West Central Alabama Health District and the Jefferson County Health District. The program specifically targets underserved, low-income, and rural communities, with a focus on reducing health disparities and improving the quality of HIV care in these regions. By addressing these critical gaps in training and care, the HTR Program aims to build a sustainable, knowledgeable healthcare workforce capable of providing comprehensive and empathetic care to those living with HIV in central Alabama.