This is the largest grant ever received by the USF Center for HIV Education and Research, which was founded by Knox in 1988 within USF's Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute. The Center is jointly sponsored by the Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the College of Medicine and the College of Public Health.
"This National Center grant will increase the number of primary health care providers in Florida who are able to counsel, diagnose, treat, and manage the care of individuals with HIV/AIDS," said Knox. The Florida AETC offers specialized workshops and clinical consultation throughout Florida on the transmission, control, treatment, and prevention of HIV and AIDS. During its 13 years of operation, the USF Center has provided training to more than 80,000 health and mental health care providers. The Center has a faculty of internationally known experts in the clinical management of pediatric and adult HIV/AIDS. Organizational ties to the de la Parte Institute also allow it to serve as a state-of-the-art center for the development of effective HIV mental health care and AIDS prevention programs.
The Florida Center is one of 14 AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs) funded nationwide. The AETCs are based in leading academic centers including Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, University of California, and Emory University. They are supported by the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act administered by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.
The University of South Florida works closely with the University of Florida, the University of Miami, and the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS to develop AETC programs. A network of 16 training partners provides faculty and clinical training sites throughout the state.
With more than 84,000 cases of AIDS reported to date, Florida is ranked second among all U.S. states in the annual rate of AIDS cases. Since the first AIDS cases were identified, knowledge of the disease and its treatment has increased greatly. The AETC program improves dissemination of new information to America's HIV/AIDS care providers.
"HIV-positive persons who obtain medical services from experienced HIV providers have improved clinical outcomes and reduced mortality," said Knox. Training is designed following an assessment of local needs. The Florida AETC recognizes that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is growing among traditionally under-served and hard-to-reach populations and that the quality of emerging HIV/AIDS treatments can make a difference in the lives of people living with HIV disease. The program places emphasis on reaching healthcare providers serving minority and poor populations that are now increasingly affected by HIV.
Knox is a Distinguished Professor at USF. In addition to his role at the Institute, he also holds joint appointments as Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, USF College of Medicine, and as Professor in the Department of Community and Family Health, USF College of Public Health. Knox teaches USF courses on AIDS and Death and Dying and is the senior editor of HIV and Community Mental Healthcare, a textbook published by the Johns Hopkins University Press.
For more about the HIV Center