Do you have information on an upcoming HIV-related special event, resource, survey, funding call, job opportunity, or call for abstracts that you would like to share? Please email the OHTN to have your announcement included in our next Did You Know? newsletter.

October 13, 2010

1. COUNTDOWN TO 13TH ANNUAL OHTN RESEARCH CONFERENCE—15 & 16 November 2010

2. UPCOMING EVENTS

3. NEW OPPORTUNITIES

4. RESOURCES

 

COUNTDOWN TO 13TH ANNUAL OHTN RESEARCH CONFERENCE — November 15 & 16, 2010

Special Conference Room Rate: Hotel Booking Deadline is October 22

The 2010 conference will be held at the Hilton Toronto Hotel, located in downtown Toronto. Hotel rooms are available at our special conference rate of $179/night until October 22, 2010. Book your room online through the OHTN Conference Hilton Group Page or call the reservations desk at 1-800-HILTONS (445-8667) and request the group rate for the “Ontario HIV Treatment Network”.

Introducing Our Conference Co-chairs

We are delighted to announce that Murray Jose and Dr. Leonard Moore are the co-chairs of this year’s Conference. Murray has worked in the community-based AIDS movement for many years, is currently Executive Director of the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, and is a perennial participant in the Friends for Life Bike Rally. Murray has been involved in a number of community-based research projects. Clearly, for Murray, “living with HIV for 17 yrs has not stopped me from living my life to the fullest.” Dr. Moore, an OHTN Board Member, is a family physician who has been providing primary care services for over 10 years to people with or affected by HIV—most recently at the OASIS Clinic of the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre in Ottawa. His daily work allows him to have insight into the issues of individuals who are: unstably housed or street-involved, have addictions, have mental health disorders, and who are co-infected with Hepatitis C. He continues to formally and informally educate medical students, medical residents, team members, and colleagues on HIV prevention and treatment issues. Murray and Len have already contributed greatly to the direction and content of the Conference, and will guide participants through the Conference program with their remarkable intelligence, insight, and charm.

CATIE & OHTN Partner on Community Scholarships

The OHTN and CATIE are continuing and deepening our co-operation around the Conference. This year, CATIE and the OHTN are jointly financing the scholarship fund for community participants. Through CATIE’s generous financial support, we will be able to bring many more people from across Ontario to the Conference. CATIE and the OHTN will be cover the cost of registration, travel, accommodation (and for some people, childcare) for 39 community members and frontline service providers from outside the Greater Toronto Area. This is in addition to 50 registration scholarships for community members and service providers from the GTA. CATIE’s knowledge of community-based AIDS organizations throughout Ontario enriched the scholarship review and decision making process. Look for more information on CATIE’s activities in and around the Conference, below, and in our next issue.

CATIE Pre-OHTN Research Conference Learning Institute on Sunday, November 14

The CATIE Learning Institute is an opportunity for community scholarship recipients and other community members to learn how to get the most out of the OHTN Research Conference: in terms of both their personal health management and/or in reporting back to the communities and organizations they represent. The Learning Institute, to be held on the evening of Sunday, November 14, 2010, at the Hilton Toronto Hotel, will offer an informal environment with plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion. Dr. Sean B. Rourke, Scientific and Executive Director of the OHTN, will introduce the themes and highlights of this year's Conference. He will be followed by a panel of key Ontario researchers who will assist participants to better understand and critically examine HIV research, as well as presenting important findings from their current research projects. Participants will gain a greater understanding of the research process, learn how to interpret findings from the conference in a meaningful way, and find out more about key Ontario research projects. For more details on the Learning Institute and to register, please contact Mara Brotman at CATIE.

Plenary Panels to Feature People from Ontario, OHTN Networks

We will draw on the incredible knowledge, expertise, and experience of the people in Ontario and in our OHTN networks—staff from community-based AIDS organizations, health care providers, educators, researchers, and policy makers—as plenary panelists. Following plenary presentations, panelists from a diversity of perspectives will explore the complexities of HIV prevention and care, including aging, comorbidities, prevention among men who have sex with men, and harm reduction interventions. Consistent with the OHTN’s Strategic Plan to 2015, panelists will challenge and encourage Conference participants to put research evidence into action to improve the health and well-being of people with HIV and people at risk.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Casey House HIV/AIDS and Health Care Education Symposium on October 19

Casey House Logo

Casey House will host its next HIV/AIDS and Health Care Education Symposium on October 19, 2010, in Toronto. The one-day Symposium on “Maintaining Excellence in Health Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS” will address the role of early life experience in adaptation to illness, increasing insight and understanding of the perspective of people with HIV on health care delivery, HIV/AIDS and osteoporosis, and HIV/AIDS and cognitive impairment. For more information, visit the Casey House website.

Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention AGM & Open House on October 28

BlackCap Logo

The Board and staff of Black CAP would like to invite you to their 2009/2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Open House to be held on the evening of October 28, 2010, in Toronto. The event will include tours of their new office space, ribbon cutting, and a reading by Canadian author and Giller Prize winner, Austin Clarke. The AGM is open to everyone, but only Black CAP members are eligible to vote. To sign up to become a member, or to register to attend, see the meeting announcement.

 

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

IAS Job Posting: Executive Director, Apply by October 15

The IAS Logo

The International AIDS Society (IAS) is seeking to appoint a new Executive Director to lead its secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. Please see the job advert for more information. Applications should be sent to [email protected]. The deadline for application is October 15, 2010.

Toronto Teen Survey Needs Your Input: Real World Impact Survey
Toronto Teen Sex Logo

The Toronto Teen Survey (TTS) was the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind. We focused on learning about the sexual health needs of diverse groups of youth living in Toronto.  TTS has always been committed to ensuring that the knowledge we gathered through our research is shared with you.  We know you rely on up-to-date information to make important decisions about serving youth, and formulating policies. Please take about 10 minutes to complete a confidential survey on how TTS information has impacted your work with youth. Fill out the survey here before October 18, 2010.

CIHR Job Postings: Knowledge Translation Director and Executive Director of Patient-Oriented Research Strategy, Apply by October 22
CIHR Logo

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Government of Canada's agency responsible for funding health research in Canada, is seeking to fill two upcoming positions: Director, Knowledge Translation and Executive Director, Strategy on Patient-Oriented Research. The deadline to apply is October 22, 2010. For more information on these positions and other career opportunities with CIHR, please visit the CIHR website.

CATIE Job Posting: Coordinator, Gay Men’s Sexual Health Project, Apply by Oct 29
CATIE Logo

As Canada’s national knowledge exchange broker for HIV and hepatitis C prevention, care, treatment, and support, CATIE offers a wide variety of free information services for people living with HIV and hepatitis C and for the organizations that serve them. CATIE is currently seeking a Coordinator for the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Project who will be responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Project, including the project advisory committee, webinars, networking opportunities, and administration of the online Knowledge Centre. The deadline to apply is October 29, 2010. For more details on the position and how to apply, see the job posting.

Teresa Group: Toronto Advanced Professional Education Series Starts November 10
Teresa Group Logo

The Teresa Group will be teaching an online course this fall through the Toronto Advanced Professional Education (TAPE) Services. The Teresa Group has been providing specialized programming to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS for over 20 years. This is the first time TAPE has offered a course related to working with children and families who are affected by HIV and AIDS. This module is designed for practitioners and front-line workers who are working with children and families who may or may not have disclosed that they are living with HIV. The course will begin on November 10 and ends December 8, 2010. For more information, visit the TAPE website.

 

RESOURCES

Good Practice Guide: Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV (GIPA)
Good Practice Guide Iimage

The Good Practice Guide—Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV (GIPA) has recently been published by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+). The Guide contains information, strategies, and resources to support program officers in enabling meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in new and existing HIV programs. The Guide may also be useful for enhancing the involvement of people living with HIV in policy processes and research, and can be applied to many different contexts.

OHTN Confirms that Supervised Consumption Study is Ongoing
OHTNT Logo

Last week, an OHTN-funded research study made the news. Dr. Ahmed Bayoumi and Dr. Carol Strike are co-principal investigators of a study examining the feasibility—impact and cost-effectiveness—of establishing supervised consumption sites in Toronto and Ottawa. On October 6, 2010, an Ottawa media outlet reported that Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien had issued a press release stating that the Ontario government was suppressing the study’s results. In an OHTN press release, Dr. Sean B. Rourke, Scientific and Executive Director, confirmed that the provincial government is not holding up the study results. The OHTN has funded the study until March 31, 2011. Research conducted in Vancouver has shown that a supervised injection site in that city has improved health outcomes for people who use drugs, including people with HIV and hepatitis, and improved public order. Despite this evidence, supervised consumption programs have proven controversial. Dr. Rourke explained that Dr. Bayoumi and Dr. Strike, “are world class researchers who are committed to ensuring their research results have the greatest impact. They have provided us with a detailed plan for constructively engaging the local community and key stakeholders, including Medical Officers of Health and Chiefs of Police in Toronto and Ottawa, on this complex health issue.” Stay tuned for more coverage of this important research.