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HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group DPG

ADA members sharing cutting-edge information on nutrition management of HIV/AIDS and providing an avenue for research, monitoring and advocacy for nutrition intervention.

Dietetic Practice Group #29
Visit HIV/AIDS DPG's Web Site at www.hivaidsdpg.org/

The HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group finds that keeping its members current on information related to HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases is crucial to clinical care. HIV is probably the most challenging and complex disease for the nutrition professional. The dietetic practice group provides information, research and networking with leaders in this field. This benefits those who have made a career change to HIV-related care, occasionally see an HIV-positive patient or those who would just like to become more informed about the role of nutrition in Infectious Disease. Members are active in public policy, advocacy and clinical practice management. The HIV Practice Group is committed to keeping members abreast of the most current information through our electronic mail list, Web site, Positive Communication newsletter and a number of HIV-nutrition related conferences. The DPG is also very focused on the future and will be pursuing a number of research opportunities that will support MNT and provide treatments that will meet the ever changing needs of our population."

The goals of the HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group are:

To support and expand a network of dietetics professionals that share information and experiences on the nutritional management of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases.
To create and disseminate a comprehensive quarterly publication that provides nutrition information to members, allied health professionals and primary care providers in the field of HIV/AIDS management through a variety of communication channels.
To inform members of current research in HIV/AIDS nutrition and to provide support for their participation in research projects through networking and a competitive research grant.
To advocate through public policy and education for the integration of nutrition into HIV disease management.

Member Benefits

Quarterly publication, Positive Communication, a peer-reviewed quarterly newsletter (ISSN #1096-7370) providing current information on treatments, research and resources concerning HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases and its impact on nutrition. Available online soon
Member-only electronic mail list, provides an online forum for sharing research, information, alerts, events, opinions and ideas
Web site at www.hivaidsdpg.org/ contains a members-only area offering a full menu of special online features;
- Archives of email discussions grouped by topic
- Educational programs and handouts from HIV nutrition conferences provided by HIV/AIDS DPG members
- Online membership roster
- Online nationwide directory of HIV/AIDS organizations
- HIV/AIDS medical nutrition therapy protocols: free downloadable copies available to HIV/AIDS DPG members only
- Online Positive Communication and back issues
- Links to many other HIV/AIDS web sites
- Notification of upcoming HIV/AIDS conferences

HIV/AIDS DPG Officers

Chair: Joanne Maurice, MS, RD, CD
Chair-elect: Jennifer Eliasi-Teich, MS, RD, CDN
Treasurer: Alan Lee, RD, CDE, CDN, CFT
Secretary: Lisa Ronco, MS, RD, CDN
Past Chair: Barbara Crave, PhD, RD

Membership Total - 400

Newsletter Name and Unique Features

Positive Communication (ISSN #1096-7370) is the peer-reviewed quarterly publication of the HIV/AIDS DPG. It provides current information on the treatments, research and resources of HIV and AIDS and their impact on nutrition.
Positive Communication is sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be abstracted for the National AIDS Clearinghouse and reviewed for The Daily News Update from the CDC National Center for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis prevention.

For subscription information and an index of all back issues, please visit the newsletter page at www.hivaidsdpg.org/.

If you would like to contribute an article to the newsletter, please contact Nicole Garfield at editor@hivaidsdpg.org.

Medical Nutrition Therapy

Medical Nutrition Therapy Across the Continuum Of Care (ADA, 2000): Members of the HIV/AIDS DPG contributed to the development and review of the HIV/AIDS Medical Nutrition Therapy Protocols for adults.
HIV/AIDS Medical Nutrition Therapy Protocols for children: Members of the HIV/AIDS DPG collaborated with members of the Pediatric Nutrition DPG in the third edition of Medical Nutrition Therapy Across the Continuum Of Care.

ADA Positions Involvement

The HIV/AIDS DPG provided comments for updating the following positions:

"Phytochemicals and functional foods"
"Nutrition standards for child care programs"
"Women's health and nutrition"
"Nutrition services for children with special health needs"
"Nutrition monitoring of the home parenteral and enteral patients"
"Issues in feeding the terminally ill adult"
"Legal and ethical issues in feeding permanently unconscious patients"
"Integration of Medical Nutrition Therapy and Pharmacotherapy"
"Nutrition intervention in the care of person's with human immunodeficiency virus infection"

Development of Evidenced Based Practice Tools

Members are involved in the development of an HIV Nutrition Evidence Analysis Library that is part of ADA’s Evidence Analysis Library.

Join HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group now!

ADA Members may join HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group through ADA’s website: www.eatright.org/. Select HIV/AIDS DPG #29 on the registration form.
If you are not an ADA member but are qualified to be one, you must first join ADA before joining HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group.
If you are not qualified to be an ADA member, consider becoming a Friend of HIV/AIDS (FOHA). For information about FOHA membership contact: Stuart Katsh at alliance@hivaidsdpg.org.
The membership year runs from June 1 through May 31. ADA accepts payment for the current year through the end of February. Once you have joined HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group, ADA will inform HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group and you will be sent a Welcome packet and start receiving mailings, including back issues of Positive Communication

We are interested in establishing alliances with other organizations involved in HIV and AIDS. Representatives of interested organizations should direct inquiries to Stuart Katsh at alliance@hivaidsdpg.org. Our alliances include:

Association of Nutrition Services Agencies (ANSA), established, 1998
National Nutrition Guidelines for HIV/AIDS, through HRSA, established, 1999