I have been working in the field of HIV since the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic. I started out as a Medical Assistant working in a San Francisco clinic, where the very first patients with HIV were seen. This was before anyone even knew what it was and had no idea what to do for these patients. During this period I also attended nursing school and obtained my Bachelors degree in the Science of Nursing. For the ten years following my graduation from school I worked intensely with HIV patients in the hospital setting.
In 1995 I decided to go back to school and continue my education in the diagnosis and treatment of disease with a specialty in HIV. I gradated from the Stanford University Nurse Practitioner program in 1997 and immediately started working in an HIV clinic where I focused on working with young people with HIV.
If you decide to come to our clinic the first thing that will happen on our initial meeting is that I will ask you if you have any immediate concerns or questions that I can help you with. This is always where I start. My goal is to help you in whatever way you see fit in dealing with an HIV diagnosis. Maybe you just want to talk about how your feeling at the moment or maybe you would like to know more about what HIV is and how its treated. Whatever the case I’m there to help you in whatever way that I can.
After we deal with your concerns and questions I will then tell you what I would like to do. Normally on the first visit this involves getting to know who you are which includes: your medical history, your living situation, how you spend your time, your interests, etc. What’s most important to me is that we have an honest and mutually respectful relationship. I always tell people that if I ask a question that they don’t want to answer that it’s perfectly OK to say that they don’t feel comfortable answering that question. I would much prefer this to making up something that isn’t quite true.
If you are uncomfortable with a question we would then move on with no judgments and no probing. You are always in control of what information you share with me and how your medical care will proceed. If I recommend something such as taking a medication or having your blood drawn and you don’t feel comfortable with my recommendation then that’s OK. I see myself as an advisor to you – someone who knows something about HIV and how it’s treated and who is offering my knowledge and expertise to you. It’s up to you as to whether you want to follow my recommendations.
Regardless of what you choose I will continue to work with you to the best of my ability. My firm belief is that you are always in control. Nothing will ever be forced on. Your choices will always be respected. All I ask of you is that you treat our clinic staff with basic human respect and I promise you that we will do the same. If for whatever reason you feel that that is not happening, this is a place where you can safely be upfront about saying it and know that we will take it very seriously. We will make every effort to rectify things so that this can be a safe and welcoming place for you to receive your care.