Current information on new HIV medications and Hartford area HIV programs will be the topic of September's Hartford HIV Forum. Kevin Dieckhaus, M.D., HIV Coordinator and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) and Medical Director of The Connecticut AIDS Education and Training Center (CAETC), will speak on Tuesday, September 20 at noon at the Living Center, 1841 Broad Street. The event is free; lunch will be provided and advanced registration is required.

Dr. Dieckhaus' responsibilities at the UCHC include management of the HIV medication adherence program; participation in clinical trials for new HIV medications; and managing an HIV dental initiative, a program that provides free dental care to HIV positive patients. As Medical Director of CAETC, which provides AIDS-related continuing education to health care providers, he provides education on topics such as prescribing antiviral medications, antiviral resistance, HIV medication interactions, and clinical management.

When asked about his approach to treatment, Dr. Dieckhaus points out the necessity "to look at the medical, but also the social milieu to see what's right for a patient. In the end," he states, "the patient is the one swallowing the pills, or getting sick from AIDS, so education of people with HIV is critical in obtaining a good medical outcome."

This month's presentation is particularly geared to HIV patients and their families, but also will be of interest to health care and service providers and others who are interested in updating their knowledge of the newest medications and programs available. Dr. Dieckhaus will provide information about Aptivus, the latest drug on the market, as well as other drugs that may be available soon. He also will highlight programs in the Hartford area that are of special interest, such as the UCHC medication adherence program and the HIV Dental Initiative. A question-and-answer period will be included in the presentation.

This is the first lecture in the Fall 2005 series of forums organized by The Institute for Community Research and the Connecticut AIDS Education and Training Center. The Hartford HIV Forum meets from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m., on the second Tuesday of each month from September through June. The goal of the forums is to give the local community the most up-to-date information on current topics in AIDS prevention, treatment, research and care. To register for the forum, call the Institute for Community Research at 860-278-2044. For more information about the series, contact Peg Weeks at The Institute for Community Research at 860-278-2044 X229.