The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine observes World AIDS Day Dec. 1 with a symposium beginning at 11 a.m. in Goodwin-Overton Auditorium on the college campus.

James Willig, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Infectious Diseases, will speak on HIV in the present day, its ongoing challenges, and new hope. He will discuss current trends regarding the epidemiology of HIV in the U.S., as well as the one "functional cure” case. 

Jennifer Spencer, a lecturer in the College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Pathobiology, will present "Animals and the Immunosuppressed Person: Fact versus Fiction."

Willig’s work with the UAB 1917 Clinic Cohort has focused on quality issues in HIV primary care, as well as the integration of informatics tools to improve patient care. He spearheaded the design of the second version of the 1917 Clinic electronic medical record and the integration of medication dosing decision support for HIV therapy into this software. The UAB 1917 Clinic Cohort is a cohort study established in 1992 that includes HIV positive individuals who receive primary and subspecialty care at the UAB 1917 Clinic.

The symposium is free and open to the public.  Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine is located at 1180 Wire Road.

Contact: Tara Lanier, (334) 844-3698, tara.lanier@auburn.edu