Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ) and Positively Aware will host a day-long summit for long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS, "The Reunion Project: Chicago," Friday, June 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Center on Halsted.
The organizer of the summit is Jeff Berry, director of publications for TPAN and editor-in-chief of Positively Aware, TPAN's HIV-treatment journal of TPAN. In his role at TPAN, Berry oversees TPAN's website and works with the art director on any other informational materials that TPAN provides.
Berry created The Reunion Project: Chicago so long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS can share their stories of loss and survival. The event also aims to honor the past, identify and develop successful strategies for living, and having people support each other as they age.
It's estimated that 50 percent of people living with HIV are 50 years or older and as the population ages there are a lot of other issues that come along with that. Not only side effects and complications due to aging, medications and the virus itself but also issues around mental health, economic security and housing," said Berry. "There's been such success with treating HIV/AIDS so people are living longer.
"This summit will be an amazing opportunity for people to come together and work together as a community to help each other as they age. The Reunion Project isn't just a one-day event. After the day is over, then what? What we're hoping to do with the summit is see what the community needs and wants, and work on ways to address those needs and wants. This summit—which I don't think has ever been done before—will be a great opportunity for these things to be addressed."
The summit ( being funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb ) will include panels and presentations by key researchers, national advocates and long-term survivors of HIV and AIDS as well as discussions and Q&A sessions with the speakers throughout the day.
Dr. Rick Loftus ( associate program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California, and an adjunct clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California ), Dr. Frank Palella ( professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and attending physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, specializing in infectious diseases and internal medicine ) and David Munar ( president/CEO of Howard Brown Health Center ) are among the key speakers who will be in attendance that day.
"This is the first event of this scale that I've created and I'm really excited about it. Getting this funding wasn't easy, but our sponsor recognized the urgent need for this kind of summit to go forward," said Berry. "This is a unique, one of a kind opportunity to not only help support one another but also to engage with those working in the area of HIV/AIDS to learn about research and policy that's going to directly affect everyone with HIV/AIDS as they age."
"Bristol-Myers Squibb is proud to support The Reunion Project," said Bristol-Myers Squibb HIV Advocacy and Policy Lead David Richwine. "Long-term survivors of the HIV epidemic face everyday challenges related to, and in addition to, the management of medical considerations. We are enthusiastic about helping to bring members of the community together in meaningful, collaborative settings to discuss these important issues."
In related news, The Second Annual National Long-term Survivors HIV/AIDS Awareness Day will take place on Friday, June 5. See www.nhaltsad.org for more information.
Another summit will be held in Palm Springs, California, in November. "We're really thrilled to be hosting this summit and are hoping that based on the success of this summit and the one in Palm Springs we can expand this in 2016 to include more cities," said Berry. "We would love for this to be a continual thing because there are so many communities around the country that have aging gay HIV-positive men who could benefit from a summit like this."
To register for The Reunion Project: Chicago, visit www.tpan.com or call 773-989-9400 no later than Friday, June 12.
