D.A.P. joins others at 5th annual Inland Empire HIV/AIDS Conference

(PALM SPRINGS, CA – February 26, 2009)

An all-day conference entitled “The Power of Prevention” will be held on Wednesday, March 11 from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Morongo Resort Conference Center in Cabazon.

Sponsored by the Riverside County HIV/AIDS Program, the goal of the conference is to educate providers, consumers, and the community at large on techniques to stay healthy and reduce transmission of HIV. Featured speakers include AIDS pioneer R. Christoph Sandoval and Dr. Virginia Cafaro, Medical Director of WellSpring Medical Group, one of the largest HIV primary care practices in the U.S.

Peter DeMartino, PhD, Program Development and Quality Improvement Manager at Desert AIDS Project will moderate the “HIV Public Policy Panel” at 12:45 PM, along with Tom Peterson, Director of Public Policy at AIDS Service Foundation of Orange County. Arturo Hernandez and Robert Swortfiguer will facilitate the “Gay and Gray: Overview of HIV Prevention for Seniors” session at 2:00 PM. Hernandez is Director of Education, Prevention and Testing at D.A.P., while Swortfiguer is a Community Health Educator there.

The $35 conference registration fee -- $25 for students – includes buffet lunch, parking, and all conference materials. For more information or to register, please visit www.rivcohivaids.org.

Desert AIDS Project is the organization in our community where people living with HIV and AIDS can receive comprehensive support, including medical care, case management, and social services. D.A.P. also offers confidential HIV testing at a number of locations and widespread education and prevention services for schools, civic organizations, businesses, churches, and health organizations throughout the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or call 760-323-2118.