HIP Seminar Recap: HIV and Telehealth

The Midwest D-CFAR hosted our inaugural HIV Works in Progress (HIP) seminar in July, marking a pivotal moment for the Center's collaborative efforts in HIV research.

The seminar kicked off with an overview of the D-CFAR's core structure and leadership. Participants also had the opportunity to introduce themselves and share their research interests, fostering a sense of community and collaboration among the researchers. Next, the Developmental Core presented a brief overview of its activities, including a structured mentoring program and opportunities for pilot funding.

The highlight of the seminar was a presentation by Dr. Dima Dandachi, Associate Professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Dandachi presented her study, "ACCELERATE: A Multisite Type II Implementation – Effectiveness Hybrid Mixed Methods Study of a Simplified Accelerated ART Initiation Protocol for People with HIV Who Are Out of Care." Dr. Dandachi detailed the pressing need for rapid ART re-initiation for people living with HIV (PLWH) who have fallen out of care, particularly in vulnerable populations and rural areas. The ACCELERATE model aims to address these significant gaps in HIV care through innovative approaches such as implementing a standardized outreach method to reach PLWH who are lost to care, utilizing telehealth for rapid provider access, facilitating same-day ART prescriptions, and providing a free 30-day starter pack to patients. Dr. Dandachi’s research aims to evaluate the implementation and patient-related outcomes of the ACCELERATE model of care.

Following Dr. Dandachi’s presentation, Dr. Priya Pal, Instructor in Medicine at WashU, facilitated a thoughtful discussion about Dr. Dandachi’s work, with a particular focus on the translational stage of the research. The seminar concluded with lively engagement from attendees, setting the stage for future collaborations and advancing the Midwest D-CFAR’s mission to combat HIV through innovative and translational research.  

HIP seminars are held on the last Wednesday of every month at 2pm central time. Future topics and speakers can be found on our event calendar.

Written by Kate Gershwin.