KUMC students recognize World AIDS Day

Nov 25, 2008

Each year on Dec. 1, the world recognizes the global impact of HIV/AIDS and remembers its victims. This year, student leaders at the University of Kansas Medical Center are coming together Dec. 1 – 4 to sponsor a week of awareness surrounding World AIDS Day.

The activities begin Dec. 1 with the display of nine panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in the KU School of Nursing Atrium. The display is open to the public and can be viewed through noon on Dec. 4. Trish Steen, HIV positive patient, will present the AIDS Memorial Quilt panels on Monday, Dec. 1 at 12:15 p.m. in the KU School of Nursing Atrium.

In 1989 at age 25, Steen was diagnosed with HIV after her husband died of AIDS. In April 2000, after living in denial of her status and refusing medical treatment for 11 years, she was diagnosed with AIDS. Having completed many HIV/AIDS courses over the past six years, Steen has become an avid advocate within the HIV/AIDS community. Presently, she is the program coordinator for Healthy University (formerly known as HIV University, a program designed by, for and about women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS), volunteers as a peer educator at Truman Medical Center's Infectious Disease Clinic, speaks publicly from time to time and is a member of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Planning Council of Kansas City. She also serves as secretary to the Board of Directors of the Zephyr LTNP Foundation, which links elite controllers of HIV to research studies throughout the country.

Throughout the week, programs focusing on the local, national and international aspects of this pandemic also are scheduled each day at noon in the School of Nursing Auditorium (G013, School of Nursing Building). Those activities include:

Monday: Maithe Enriquez, PhD, RN, professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) School of Nursing and nurse practitioner at the HIV/AIDS Clinic at Truman Medical Center, will speak to nurses and nursing students Dec. 1 at 11:30 a.m. in the School of Nursing Building, Room G013. Enriquez will talk about her role in HIV/AIDS care, prevention and research.

Tuesday: Shilpa Buch, PhD – What is happening in National AIDS Research

Wednesday: Pills, Profit, Protest: Chronicle of the Global AIDS Movement

Thursday: Panel Discussion at noon, discussing issues with HIV/AIDS facing the Kansas City community; Candlelight Vigil to commemorate the commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS. This will be at 6:00 pm in the Murphy Courtyard.

For more information please contact the KUMC Office of Student Engagement at 913-588-6681.