VIDC November Highlights

Here’s a quick snapshot of some important updates from VIDC.

UBC iCON South Asian CPC

On November 28, 2015 the VIDC team held its third special CPC. VIDC Community Pop-Up Clinics are are constantly evolving to accommodating different communities that would benefit from point-of-care testing for either HIV, HCV, or both. This year we have done a CPC at the World Hepatitis Day Vancouver Event 2015 for attendees, one for the Chinese community at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Health Fair 2015, and now a one for the South Asian Community.  Just like the first two events, VIDC provided point-of-care HCV Testing, FibroScan® Testing, and a specialist consult for those who test positive

AMBER Study

As a medical and research clinic, VIDC is involved with a number of clinical trials — specifically trials in HIV and HCV. One of which is AMBER, an AbbVie clinical study focused on treating chronic hepatitis C infection for genotype 1. Consequently, the VIDC team — led by Dr. Brian Conway — successfully enrolled the very first patient for the study.

AMBER Study November Newsletter

Clinical studies like these are a very integral part of the cascade of care we provide at VIDC. These studies allow us to further engage patients in care, and provide them access (when applicable) to treatment options that are only available through clinical studies.

Red Ribbons for Life (RR4L)

Red Ribbons for Life 8 last November 29 was a huge success! Community organizations and its supporters, local politicians, pharmaceutical company representatives, and amazing performers came together to help raise money and awareness for HIV.

And of course, VIDC was there to support the cause — and to listen to our President and Medical Director, Dr. Brian Conway, give the keynote speech for the evening.

Dr. Conway with fellow Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Excellence in the Field of HIV/AIDS in Canada Honoree, Bradford McIntyre, at RR4L 8. [PC Brad McIntyre]

It was a lovely evening filled with music, laughter, and show-stopping performances shared with friends and family all present to support the fundraising efforts of RR4L.

 

VIDC at the Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey VII

Last May 6-7, The Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre had the privilege to be a part of the 7th Annual Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey forum at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver hotel.

As part of the event, they had a Health Screening room set up with screening stations for blood pressure, glucose level, tuberculosis (TB), and liver health. We came in with our FibroScan® machine and was greeted by very friendly First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) staff with a full two-day list (and quite a huge waiting list) of people interested in getting their liver tested — there was no time to waste!

This sign says it all. The FNHA did a great job with the promotional materials.

There was no lull time as we screened people one after the other. Everyone was very excited to find out about the machine (and about their liver health too, I’m sure). As part of our team, we had our HCV Nurse Shawn Sharma, RN BSN administer the screening and Dr. Alexandra King MD, FRCPC consulting with the patients about the results.

Overall, it was such a great experience being part of the forum. The energy from everyone working together to improve the health and wellness of the First Nation communities was simply surreal!

Meet Heppy! The Giant Microbes depiction of what the Hepatitis C Virus looks like — if it were a cute plush toy a million times its actual size.

Our registration booth set up with Brian from FNHA.

Contact Information on our poster, with our “HEP C? GET TESTED!” wristbands. Special thanks to Daryl Luster from the Pacific Hepatitis C Network for the wristbands!