Whitman-Walker Clinic (WWC)      
Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center (ETMC)
1701 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Max Robinson Center (MRC)
2301 ML King, Jr. Ave SE
Washington, DC 20020
http://www.wwc.org

Anticipated Project(s): Healthy You
The 2009-2010 WWC ISCOPES team will work to create and implement a health class that is designed to give clients creative ways to lower blood pressure, weight, and blood glucose. The classes will be supported by the Medical Adherence team at WWC, which includes RNs and a Registered Dietician. The curriculum for class could include role play, games, facilitated discussion, and instruction on hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and renal disease. Participants in the classes will be male and female clients of WWC that may or may not be HIV positive. The classes will be held at both WWC sites (see addresses above). Times of classes will be based on meeting room availability.

Expectations of Team Members:
Ten students will break into teams of three to four members each. Locations and times of classes will be based on availability of students, clients, and meeting rooms. The frequency of the classes will be biweekly at ETMC and monthly at MRC. Ideally, we would have 2 groups of students working at ETMC and one group working at MRC. The groups at ETMC would rotate so that each group facilitates a group about once per month.

Past Projects:
The 2008-09 WWC ISCOPES team project was in conjunction with the HIV peer support program of WWC. This program links newly diagnosed HIV positive clients with clients who have been living with HIV for two of more years. The ISCOPES team created a training manual for the mentors.

The 2007-2008 team last year worked with several Whitman-Walker Clinic providers to identify needs before identifying the current project. The 2007-08 team developed focus group questions and other materials, which will serve as the foundation for the 2008-09 team. Prior to working with WWC last year, ISCOPES had previously worked with WWC back in 1999 and 2000.

Site Description:
In November 1973, the Gay Men’s VD Clinic, part of the Washington Free Clinic, began operating in the basement of the Georgetown Lutheran Church. This was the birth of what was to become Whitman-Walker Clinic.
For more than three decades, the Clinic has been renowned – locally, nationally and internationally – for the high-quality, culturally sensitive care it provides. This work remains critical in an area with the highest HIV infection rate in the country.