Upcoming HIV/AIDS panel at UGA

Thought this event might interest you all and others you know; the event is Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at UGA's College of Public Health (in the Coverdell Building near the UGA Tennis Courts).  Please feel free to pass along to others. 

Early Leaders in AIDS Battle will Share History, Insights at UGA College of Public Health Panel

ATHENS, GA - Four of Georgia's early influential leaders on HIV/AIDS issues will share their experiences from the days of the virus's first outbreak in Atlanta during a panel discussion at the University of Georgia's Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences.

On Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m., Jim Martin, Sandra Thurman, Bruce Garner and Nancy Paris will trace the impact of the virus on Atlanta, and how the community responded during the initial outbreak.  The panel, which will be moderated by Dean Phillip Williams of the College of Public Health at UGA, will enable its participants to share their stories from the early days of the outbreak and will focus heavily on the work done by the organizers of the AIDS Legacy Project.

"How Georgia was able to face the AIDS epidemic in the early years is an important part of our history," said Martin, who, as a state legislator, helped secure some of the first public funding in the fight against the disease. "It is worth retelling the story of how issues associated with this epidemic - including sexual orientation, drug abuse, prejudice and public health - were effectively addressed by community leaders with courage, vision and compassion."

Martin, Garner, Thurman and Paris were all deeply involved in the early efforts to bring awareness to those suffering from the disease. Garner, an AIDS survivor, was instrumental in encouraging the faith community in Atlanta to get involved, while Thurman, who served as 'AIDS Czar' under President Bill Clinton, worked as a volunteer with AID Atlanta in the 1980s before eventually serving as its executive director.

Paris, the CEO of the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education, was a leader on the board of directors of AID Atlanta during the mid-1980s.

Gathering together for the first time to collectively reflect on their accomplishments, the panelists will not only share their stories, but also put forward their vision for the future of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The first documented cases of AIDS in Atlanta were diagnosed in the early 1980s. At its onset, the disease was primarily afflicting gay men and hemophilia patients with a host of mysterious and seemingly unrelated symptoms. The volunteers who were active in those early days noted that the confusion and fear surrounding the outbreak was often exacerbated by the stigma, discrimination and outright hostility shown toward many people living with the disease.

More than 30 years after the beginning of the epidemic, there are fewer and fewer individuals left to tell the story of the early days of the outbreak in Atlanta. Many of those leaders who were infected with the virus are now in their 50s and 60s and battling chronic health and aging issues complicated by AIDS. As these individuals die, there is a concern among the project's organizers that many of their personal stories could be lost.

The AIDS Legacy Project is an attempt to capture those oral and written histories from the community leaders who spearheaded the initial response to the HIV/AIDS outbreak. It began by building an archive – created from a series of interviews with those who established that initial system of care for those battling the virus - to ensure those stories would not be forgotten.

The history chronicles the first response to the outbreak, which was largely driven by the gay community in Atlanta.  It traces the founding of AID Atlanta, the first volunteer organization equipped to provide the support and care the disease required, and then culminates with the passage of the Ryan White Act, which signaled the official entry of the federal government into the crisis.

The College of Public Health at UGA has placed an emphasis on research and awareness for HIV/AIDS. Christopher Whalen, a professor of epidemiology, manages a grant program that focuses on prevention and treatment of HIV and the management of HIV-associated tuberculosis. Su-I Hou, an associate professor in health promotion and behavior, is overseeing an HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Needs Assessment for Northeast Georgia.

"The College of Public Health is committed to increasing awareness of the impact HIV/AIDS on our communities and to providing a forum for education regarding the prevention and response to infectious diseases," said Williams.

About the panelists

Bruce Garner, a retired project manager for the Social Security Administration, has a lengthy list of service and dedication to AIDS support organizations in Atlanta. A survivor of the disease himself, Garner is a member of the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition and the Commission on AIDS, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. He has twice been a member of the board of directors for AID Atlanta, as well as a member of the Ryan White HIV Planning Council for Metropolitan Atlanta.

Jim Martin, a former state legislator and commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, was the author or primary advocate for several crucial pieces of HIV/AIDS-related legislation. In 1987, he authored a bill that established the first five-year plan for Georgia to provide AIDS prevention, education and treatment, and, in 1990, he authored the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Act. Martin has twice run for statewide office, with bids for Lieutenant Governor in 2006 and U.S. Senator in 2008.

Nancy Paris, the president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education, has a long and distinguished history of working with community-based health programs. Named "Woman of the Year in Healthcare" in 2002 by the Women Healthcare Executives of Atlanta, Paris is the former director of Hospice Atlanta and former president of AID Atlanta. She has served as the interim president of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the president of Saint Joseph's Mercy Care Services and the vice-president of the Georgia Baptist Health Care System.

Sandra Thurman, the president and CEO for the International AIDS Trust, is one of the world's most respected and recognized experts on AIDS issues. A former executive director with AID Atlanta in the 1980s, Thurman was named "AIDS Czar" in 1997 by President Bill Clinton.

About the University of Georgia's College of Public Health

Founded in 2005 as a response to the state's need to address important health concerns in Georgia, the UGA College of Public Health is comprised of four departments and two research institutes, as well the Center for Global Health. The college offers degree programs in biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health promotion and behavior, public health, health policy and management, and toxicology, and a certificate program in gerontology.

Graduates from the College of Public Health - which is nationally known for its work related to infectious disease, cancer research, gerontology, disaster preparedness and other areas - typically go on to a diverse range of careers, including medicine, health education, emergency management, public health policy, environmental science and

social work.  www.publichealth.uga.edu

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Contact: Katherine O'Reilly, 706/542.2590, krl@uga.edu