Research Professor Bridgett Rahim-Williams Guest Lecturer at UF Southern HIV and Alcohol Research Consortium for Translational HIV Research

Research Professor Bridgett Rahim-Williams Guest Lecturer at UF Southern HIV and Alcohol Research Consortium for Translational HIV Research

Bridgett Rahim-Williams, PhD, MPH, MA will serve as guest lecturer at the University of Florida Southern HIV and Alcohol Research Consortium (SHARC) Center for Translational HIV Research at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at 11 a.m.

Rahim-Williams will present Health Disparities in Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Chronic Abdominal Pain in Individuals Living With HIV.

"With advances in HIV research, treatment testing and prevention, there has been progress in reducing HIV infection," said Rahim-Williams. "However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2016 HIV Surveillance Report, documents approximately 1.1 million persons in the U.S., aged 13 and older, who are living with HIV infection. Moreover, the CDC Reports that as of 2015, there are approximately 162,500 —15 percent individuals in the U.S. with undiagnosed HIV infection." 

Although those living with HIV on highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the potent drug 'cocktail' to suppress the growth of HIV, are living longer, longevity predisposes these individuals to chronic disease co-morbidities, especially the adverse effects HIV has on the gastrointestinal system. Clinical indices alone are insufficient as indicators of chronic disease symptoms negatively outcomes. Health disparities research is also needed to contribute to understanding and treatment of HIV chronic disease co-morbidity, such as GI symptom disorders, affecting differential and adverse health status among individuals living with HIV.

"There is still more that needs to be done to reduce HIV transmission, other sexually-transmitted infections, enrollment and retention into care, and testing and prevention; especially among minority populations," she said. "World AIDS Day is Saturday, December 1, 2018. This is an important moment in time to call even greater attention to efforts in which we all can become involved."

The UF SHARC Center brings together faculty and students at UF and other universities and public health agencies to conduct and collaborate on high-quality research, with the mission to translate research findings into clinical and public health interventions.