When Dr. J. Peter Rissing first heard of the mysterious pneumonia that killed five men in Los Angeles in 1981, he thought it was an anomaly that he’d never see.
Three months later, a male nurse from New York had come to Augusta to die, said Rissing, principal investigator of Augusta University’s Ryan White Program.
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He shared stories of treating patients with HIV/AIDS at the June 18 grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Moore Building on Moore Avenue, which is the program’s new home.
HIV/AIDS has claimed more than 700,000 lives in four decades, he said.
The Ryan White Program has been in place since 1995 at AU Health, but until recently it operated out of a 1,100 square foot facility with only four examining rooms. The new space has more than 17,000 square feet. More than 1,200 patients are seen at the clinic each year.
“This is a long time coming,” said Dr. Jose Vazquez, division chief of infectious disease, who was given the task of building the clinic in 2013.
Physicians and staff provide not just a biological treatment, but psychological and sociological services as well, he said.
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“Common problems that are addressed include financial instability, transportation issues, psychosocial issues and the effects of poverty, substance abuse and social stigma. We want to ensure the continuity of care and increasing access to comprehensive medical care for underserved, uninsured, and low-income minorities,” according to the program’s website.
The center is a one-stop shop for these services, Vazquez said.
Advances in treatments have made HIV manageable, and a full-blown case of AIDS is a rarity these days, Vazquez said.
“It’s easier to control HIV than it is diabetes,” said Vazquez, pointing to treatments which can come in the form of a single pill or single shot. Medications to prevent HIV infection also exist.
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While advances have been made, HIV has not gone away. New cases continue to be transmitted; most of them in the South.
“In the mid-90s, Georgia was no. 8 (in new cases). Today we’re no. 4,” Rissing said.
Future plans for the space are to include dental care. To learn more about the Ryan White Program or the Moore building, visit https://www.augusta.edu/mcg/medicine/infdis/ryanwhite/.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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