NSU CDM Lasting Impressions Fall 2018

6 | COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE Cypress Creek, you can count on other community services to be available for nondental needs of the patient,” she said. The students stress that the precautions they take for HIV patients are no different than those they take for any patients. But the CDM students also “add respect and care for the patients,” E said. Schweizer added that the staff even participates in annual AIDS walks together. Although Schweizer professes to want to retire from service in two years, don’t bet on it. “I love this,” he said. Schweizer emphasizes how vital dental care is to HIV patients. “HIV medications have side effects that can contribute to dental decay, periodontal disease, and fungal infections,” he explained. “Those can advance to systemic infections and harm the heart and other organs if not treated. An oral health professional can also be the first to recog- nize symptoms of HIV.” Peter Mai, D.M.D., M.S., another recent CDM alumnus, pointed out the uniqueness of the CDM program. “When I interviewed for school here, the program stood out because of [this] clinic. I hadn’t heard of a program like that before,” said Mai, who is doing a teaching fellowship and internship at Baylor University Medical Center. For Mai, the rewards are many. “As president of the class of 2018, I am constantly reminded of how this is everyone’s favorite rotation. The level of care we can give is special,” he said. This year, the Student Government Association awarded the Cypress Creek program the Student’s Choice Award as Extramural Facility of the Year. “And the gratitude from the patients is huge,” Mai added. “Recently, a 6'8" guy gave me a big hug. I’ll never forget that.” u Caring for HIV Patients “As president of the class of 2018, I am constantly reminded of how this is everyone’s favorite rotation. The level of care we can give is special.” —Peter Mai HIV TREATMENT DEVELOPMENTS • Chronic condition can now be contained through antiretroviral drugs. • Daily antiretroviral therapy can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood to levels that are undetectable with standard tests. • Continued treatment is considered crucial to keeping the virus suppressed. • Oral health professionals can be among the first to recognize symptoms. HIV/AIDS PATIENT CARE PRECAUTIONS (Hint: It’s the same as the protocol for all patients.) • gloves • masks • protective eyewear • proper disposal of sharp instruments • sterilization of dental instruments • respect Patient navigators Radu Nedelcu and Cecile Camille, right, confer.