Ribbon-cutting and Reception Friday, October 29, 11:00 a.m.
AHF’s new flagship facility in San Diego to house a state-of-the-art HIV/AIDS treatment clinic, a full-service AHF Pharmacy and an AHF Wellness Center—AHF’s first in San Diego—offering free HIV and STD testing and treatment
On Saturday, Oct. 30th, AHF will host a ribbon-cutting onsite for its first Out of the Closet thrift store in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (October 29, 2021) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is pleased to announce that it is opening a new AHF Healthcare Center in San Diego delivering state-of-the-art HIV/AIDS medical care and services to patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. To mark the occasion, AHF will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony, reception and preview of the new facilities on Friday, October 29 at 11:00 a.m. The site, at 3580 5th Avenue, 92103 in the Marston Hills area of San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood, is an all-in-one facility that will also include a full-service AHF Pharmacy, an AHF Wellness Center, providing free HIV and STD testing and treatment, as well as one of AHF’s ever-popular and award-winning Out of the Closet thrift stores, which will open with a separate Out of the Closet ribbon-cutting event on Saturday.
WHAT: GRAND OPENING & RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY
AHF Healthcare Center-San Diego, AHF Pharmacy and AHF Wellness Center
WHEN: FRIDAY, October 29, 2021 – 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: 3580 5th Avenue, San Diego CA 92103 (619) 516-8931 main
WHO:
- Christopher M. Ward, California Assemblymember (D-78th District)
- Stephen Whitburn, San Diego City Council President, Pro Tempore (D-3rd District)
- James Canning, Of Communications for Hon. Nathan Fletcher, San Diego County Supervisor (D-4th District)
- Susan Jester, Co-Chair on the San Diego Mayor’s LGBT Advisory Council
- Ian Matta, Intern, San Diego Mayoral Office, on behalf of Mayor Todd Garcia
- Adam Zweig, M.D., AHF San Diego Medical Director
- Michael Weinstein, President, AHF
- Scott Carruthers, Senior Manager & Chief Pharmacy Officer for AHF
- Patricia D. Bermúdez, MBA, Senior Regional Director, Western Region, AHF
NOTE: The Onsite AHF Out of the Closet San Diego will open with a separate ribbon-cutting and gala reception the following day, Sat. Oct. 30 @ 10:00 a.m.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF +1.323.791.5526 cell [email protected]
Both the AHF Healthcare Center and Pharmacy are relocating from their current locations nearby on 4th Avenue about half a mile away; the AHF Wellness Center and Out of the Closet are each brand new to the area and the first for each of their AHF brands in San Diego.
“We are excited to expand AHF’s presence and our HIV prevention and HIV/AIDS care and services in San Diego with the opening of this new AHF Healthcare Center, Pharmacy and Wellness Center—the latter, our first wellness center in San Diego,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AHF. “We believe that the easily accessible testing and other services that we will be providing to the community—in the community—and to the City of San Diego and the surrounding municipalities, may help shift the trajectory of the local HIV epidemic.”
“At this new state-of-the-art facility, AHF will be able to continue delivering quality care and medical services to San Diegans in need as well as expand our reach to even more patients,” said Adam Zweig, M.D., Medical Director, AHF San Diego Healthcare Center. “Our convenient all-in-one approach should help eliminate barriers for those in need of care and who may not know their HIV status as well as for those previously identified as HIV-positive, but for whatever reason may not be in care.”
“All of our AHF Pharmacy sites are full-service pharmacies filling pharmacy needs of all types of patients and clients that are staffed with pharmacists and pharmacy techs who also have particular expertise in HIV medications and their role in the successful management and care of those living with HIV as well as about PrEP, for prevention for HIV-negative individuals,” said Scott Carruthers, Senior Manager and Chief Pharmacy Officer for AHF. “Our one-stop, all-in-one approach is an added convenience intended to streamline services and improve health outcomes by increasing adherence to lifesaving antiretroviral treatments. We are excited to open this new AHF Pharmacy site in San Diego.”
HIV In San Diego
As of 2019, there is an estimated 13,026 people living with HIV in San Diego County with an average of 366 becoming newly infected each year. The linkage rate to HIV care within a month of a diagnosis is currently 87.6%. Currently, San Diego County residents who live below 500% of the federal poverty level and have a confirmed HIV diagnosis receive free medical care and support services from HIV specialists.
AHF, the largest global AIDS organization, currently operates 84 other Healthcare Centers (as well as 62 AHF Pharmacy outlets) in 14 states throughout the United States as well as one of each in the District of Columbia and in Puerto Rico. Each Healthcare Center provides medical programs tailored to the specific needs of asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV/AIDS individuals from qualified medical and support professionals.
NOTE: the AHF Healthcare Center, AHF Pharmacy and Wellness Center will formally begin full operations and open to the public as of Monday, November 8, 2021. During the opening reception, the second-floor space will be staged for attendees to walk through and see the upcoming health care, pharmacy and wellness operations.
The new, all-in-one AHF Center in San Diego is located in the Marston Hills are of the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego at 3508 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103.
- AHF Healthcare Center – San Diego Tel: (619) 516-8931. As of Monday, November 8, 2021, its hours will be: Mondays through Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Closed Saturdays & Sundays)
- AHF Pharmacy – San Diego Tel: (619) 574-9700. As of Monday, November 8, 2021, its hours will be: Mondays through Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Closed Sundays)
- AHF Wellness Center – San Diego Tel: (619) 837-2100. As of Monday, November 8, 2021, its hours will be: Mondays through Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Friday ribbon-cutting and AHF Healthcare Center, Pharmacy and Wellness open house will be followed with a separate ribbon-cutting and reception on Saturday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. to launch the Out of the Closet thrift store located on site at the same location.
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