We're thrilled to announce that Sarah McBeth, MD, MPH, has joined PATF as Medical Director of our new health clinic! Dr. McBeth, who brings experience in both internal and HIV-specialized medicine, will lead a medical team in creating a
new model of comprehensive, coordinated and integrated care for PATF's clients and their families. The clinic will not only provide HIV treatment, but primary care for medical issues related and unrelated to an HIV diagnosis.
Dr. McBeth and her team will also provide
sexual health care for the community, regardless of HIV status. Community members who access our HIV, STI and hepatitis C testing will be able to receive treatment at PATF's clinic. This new health expansion will also feature a
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Clinic. A powerful new tool in preventing the spread of HIV, PrEP entails taking the medication Truvada--long used to treat HIV--and is over 90 percent effective at preventing the transmission of HIV.
Dr. Sarah McBeth was an emerging infectious disease laboratory training fellow with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before obtaining her Medical Doctor and Master of Public Health degrees from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She came to Pittsburgh for a residency in the global health track of UPMC's internal medicine program. While in this program, she spent several months of her clinical training in Beira, Mozambique, a city severely affected by the HIV epidemic. Following her residency, she went on to infectious diseases fellowship training at UPMC. One of Dr. McBeth's specialties is the treatment of hepatitis C among those with HIV co-infection, an issue affecting many HIV-positive individuals.
"Though treatment for HIV has drastically improved since the introduction of antiretroviral medications in the 1990s, many new medical challenges have arisen as those with HIV age," said Sean DeYoung, PATF CEO. "Dr. McBeth's experience and passion for treating HIV, along with the many other medical issues that arise from the virus, make her uniquely suited to lead our new medical clinic. PATF has long been a leader in providing vital social services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS in our region, and we're thrilled to be able to combine these services with Dr. McBeth's medical care."
"Seeing the AIDS epidemic in Africa firsthand convinced me that HIV is among the most important public health problems in the world," said Dr. McBeth. "HIV medicine is challenging because it requires addressing stigma, psycho-social issues, sexual concerns and health systems navigation, all while managing concomitant health problems. But the same things that make it a challenge make it incredibly rewarding. Every day I try to meet my patients where they are and help them find a path to better health. I am continuously inspired by what they overcome. I know the team at PATF shares my goal of preventing HIV and empowering those who live with it. I am delighted to join them as we build a clinic to achieve those ends."
Dr. McBeth is currently in the process of helping to hire additional medical professionals and outfitting the recently-constructed medical facilities at PATF's East Liberty office. PATF anticipates that the medical clinic, along with an expanded pharmacy program, will open this fall. More details will be announced soon!
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