Clinician Scholars Program

Through mentorship and individualized learning opportunities designed within the clinician’s care setting around eleven specific capabilities, participating clinicians gain the knowledge and skills necessary to enable them to provide quality, patient-centered HIV care, and ultimately impact the HIV Care Continuum. Evidence from outcome data analysis to date shows that clinicians leave the MATEC HIV Clinician Scholars Program better prepared to: diagnose HIV infection, provide HIV medical care and/or refer to local HIV care resources, prescribe antiretroviral therapy (ART) or counsel on the benefits of ART, and support patients in achieving viral suppression.

All of which contributes to moving the United States closer to reaching the three primary goals of the National HIV AIDS Strategy:

1. Reducing HIV incidence
2. Increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes
3. Reducing HIV-related health disparities

The Clinician Scholars Program is designed for front-line clinicians who are interested in expanding their capacity to provide HIV/AIDS care. Scholars receive twelve months of in-depth training on HIV/AIDS diagnosis, treatment, medical management and prevention of HIV infection. It is a structured, yet participant-centered, program that includes:

• A minimum of 12 hours of clinical practicum in HIV care
• A minimum of 40 hours of skill building training, including but not limited to: Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE); intensive one-day orientation workshop; distance learning offerings; face-to-face meetings or trainings; and clinical consultation

MATEC has provided educational opportunities to clinicians providing care to HIV patients and those at risk for HIV for decades. The Clinician Scholars Program is MATEC’s crucial effort to address the needs of minority and minority-serving clinicians and their communities.

The MATEC network provides Scholars access to the most up-to-date HIV/AIDS information, resources and training opportunities directed by expert faculty. In the Clinician Scholars Program, participants can expect to build skills and knowledge through:

• Mentorship – Experts in HIV/AIDS care guide participants through the Clinician Scholars Program
• Clinical Consultation – Opportunities to consult with local and regional experts experienced in diagnosing and managing HIV/AIDS
• Networking Opportunities – Valuable interactions with MATEC faculty, local and regional HIV/AIDS care providers, and other Clinician Scholars
• Clinical Interaction – Participants will observe the care of patients with HIV infection, participate in simulated patient care scenarios, and respond to case presentations

The Clinician Scholars Program is open to minority and minority-serving Physicians, Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Nurses and Clinical Pharmacists who are licensed to provide care in the Midwest and who also:

• Provide direct clinical care services
• Understand HIV/AIDS fundamentals
• Seek to increase their capacity to diagnosis, manage and/or prevent HIV infection

Contact us at matec@medicine.wisc.edu or (608) 261-1152 with questions or interest in the Clinician Scholars Program.