“很高兴谈论我的故事”

Two 十大菠菜台子 William Beaumont School of Medicine student interest groups collaborated on one important mission: give people an opportunity to gain insight into what it’s like to live with AIDS..

12月. 2, the American Medical 学生 Association (AMSA) and the Harm Reduction Alliance (HRA) hosted five panelists who spoke about their experiences of living with HIV, 包括错误信息, 耻辱, and challenges they faced and continue to face for students.

The event was held in conjunction with World AIDS Day, an annual event intended to serve as a day of solidarity for people around the world who are affected by HIV.

“It’s a joy to talk about my story,” said LaDawn Tate, one of the panelists. “I just want the providers to be the best that they can, and if they don’t get this opportunity to hear actual testimonials from clients, 他们如何真正地学习?”

学习的机会

Panelists shared their stories about how they acquired the virus, 他们是如何被诊断出来的, 以及这个过程是怎样的.

然后，大家开始提问.

One attendee asked the panelists what they wish their doctors had done differently.

Tate explained that she felt her interactions with her doctor were a “missed opportunity” based on her demographic information, and that she did not get tested as quickly as she could have.

“I’m not a person who has multiple sex partners, I’m not a person who had a past of STIs,” said Tate.

“You can understand how the missed opportunity came about, and why she felt as if she didn’t need to ask, “你也想做艾滋病毒检测吗??’”

松鸦, 另一个专家, said that he would have liked to receive more respect from the various medical professionals he had seen.

“One thing about me is…[I] stand up for what is right,” he said. “你要给我尊严, 你要给我尊重, regardless of if you understand me or not.”

Another attendee asked the panelists how they wish the education and discussion around HIV changed.

Tate said she hopes that the conversation expands to include more than members of the LGBTQ+ community.

类似的, one of the other unidentified panelists said he hopes that the messaging of HIV-related treatments and preventative measures becomes more inclusive, 因为任何人都可能感染艾滋病毒.

“Just because it’s a less likely chance doesn’t mean it’s a zero chance,” he said.

双向对话

After the students had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions and hear their stories, Tate posed an important question to the students: As providers, how would they have approached any of the panelists and their stories?

Some answered that they would have started by building a relationship with their patient; seeing where their patient’s goals lied; learning about their patient’s expectations; and being aware of what biases they may have when they treat individuals and trying to eliminate them.

麦迪逊桑德斯, M2, 财务主管, AMSA, said she felt the event was an important opportunity to avoid getting “outdated and 耻辱tized” information. The subject came to her attention during her summer internship at a clinic where she interacted with patients who had acquired HIV.

“The way it was described in lectures is just totally different from how it actually is impacting people's lives now,”她说。.

Saunders said she thinks the panel was important because it allowed future physicians to understand the significance of knowing people’s stories.

“People's stories are always so important because stories are how physicians connect with their patients,桑德斯说。.

“It’s moments like these that make us not only [become] more excited about graduating and becoming physicians, but also just excited to change the 耻辱 and be the future.”

泰特表达了类似的观点.

“我们这里有各行各业的人. Even though we all live with it, we all have different stories,” said Tate. “我想让你们都知道这种耻辱, 语言, compassion— all that plays a part in being a good doctor.”