Author: KU Wichita Internal Medicine

Emergency funds or financial assistance programs for patients with HIV/AIDS can provide critical support during times of crisis or unexpected financial hardship. These programs aim to help individuals living with HIV/AIDS cover essential expenses, maintain access to treatment and care, and improve their overall quality of life. Many non-profit organizations and community-based groups dedicated to HIV/AIDS support offer emergency funds or financial assistance programs. These organizations often partner with healthcare providers, social workers, and case managers to identify individuals in need and provide targeted assistance.

Dr. Sweet once again opened up her home to host a fundraiser for the Sweet Emergency Fund which provides financial assistance for life saving medications for HIV patients, when no other financial resource is available. Each year hundreds of HIV positive patients access the funds in one way or another.

This year’s fundraiser theme was “A Reunion of Friends” which was a play on the Friends television show, which debuted the same year as the inaugural Sweet A’fair in 1994.

The Sweet A’Fair is one of the longest running fundraisers in Wichita and is unique in that it is held at an individual’s home. The committee would like to thank those who attended and those who donated to the Sweet Emergency Fund.

KU Wichita MPA Internal Medicine was thankful to have Community Health worker Victoria to facilitate the Heart Healthy Ambassador (HHA) course. This course educates participants on how to manage their blood pressures through diet, physical activity, and correct blood pressure monitoring methods. So far, we have been able to facilitate 3 classes educating a total of 24 attendees. Sessions include patients and outreach to those in the community with hypertension. We were excited to have the opportunity to offer a session for participants who speak Vietnamese by utilizing an online interpretation service and offer Vietnamese educational materials. We are honored to provide this education to attendees who may not have had the opportunity elsewhere to obtain education on monitoring hypertension and positive lifestyle change for free in the community.

The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Center for Clinical Research has resumed leading the local effort of a nationwide clinical trial brought through the COVID-19 Prevention Network testing the COVID-19 vaccine AZD1222, developed by Oxford University and purchased by AstraZeneca.

Locally, the vaccine will be available at KU Wichita Center for Clinical Research and its mobile unit, which will travel to high-risk areas in Wichita and the surrounding region. There is an overall goal to recruit 1,200 participants in Kansas, with 200 being enrolled in Wichita.

For more information and to learn how to be considered for the trial, read the full story.

KU Internal Medicine-Wichita has been honored with four Wichita Business Journal Healthcare Heroes Awards. We would like to recognize the following faculty members and departments for their dedication to helping others.

Wichita Business Journal Health Care Heros Award Winners

Donna Sweet, MD, AAHIVS, MACP was inducted into the Wichita State University Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame on Friday, Dec 6.

Induction in to the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame is in recognition of an alum’s highly significant impact on the region and the nation. Her national and international work with HIV-positive and AIDS patients, along with her advocacy for that population, is truly inspiring.

She was inducted as part of the inaugural cohort of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame to celebrate her work and life example in the highest possible way.