NSU CDM Lasting Impressions Fall 2018

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 5 In the mid-1980s, a boy named Ryan White was shunned by his Indiana school because of ignorance about HIV. The young hemophiliac, who contracted the virus from a blood transfusion, became a poster child for ignorance about AIDS, and a national movement was born. Many courageous people have been fighting that ignorance ever since, resulting in national legislation enacted shortly after White’s death in 1990. The goals include better treatment for patients, education for the public, and support for select organizations at the ground level. One such initiative thrives at the Cypress Creek dental facility operated by the NSU College of Dental Medicine. This dental office not only treats patients with HIV, it also educates future health professionals. Among those professionals is Kathryn (Katie) Champion, D.M.D., who graduated from the CDM in May and plans to enter private practice. “After my time here, I’d feel comfortable treating any HIV patient,” Champion said. She also dispels the notion of fear. “With the regular precautions we take with any patient, the risk of exposure to the disease is no different.” Champion served a four-month term at the Cypress Creek office, as do all of the CDM’s fourth- year dental students. First- and second-year predoc- toral students come to the facility for observation, orientation, and education, preparing them for their senior predoctoral rotation. Mark Schweizer, D.D.S., M.P.H., associate professor, who began treating HIV patients early in his career, leads the CDM Cypress Creek dental office. His interest prompted him to receive a master’s degree in public health at NSU in 2010. Schweizer has been involved in the Ryan White grant process at the CDM for 11 years and as the program director for the last 6 years. On the national level, he is dental director of the Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC). The AETC’s mission is to increase the number of health care providers who are effectively educated and motivated to counsel, diag- nose, treat, and medically manage people with HIV. The grant provides support for the clinic, as well as for companion medical and mental health services in Broward County. Under the grant, dental clinics use a team-based approach composed of health profession- als from multiple disciplines. This approach has led to an impressive outcome. “It’s all about viral suppression in people living with AIDS,” Schweizer explained. “I am proud that our program produces outcomes of 93 percent viral suppression—one of the highest in the country.” This not only preserves the health of the person with HIV, but also prevents sexual transmission of the virus to an HIV-negative partner. Recent CDM graduate Julia E, D.M.D., applauds the value of the Ryan White grants. “For the patients at COL L EGE OF DENTAL MEDIC I NE FAC I L I TY DEL I VER S V I TAL CAR E BY JOHN DOLEN CDM professor Alberto Despaigne works with fourth-year dental student Joanna Theodorou.