USF Center for HIV Education and Research

Director and Principal Investigator/Clinical Director Bios

Kim Molnar, MAcc, Director

Kimberly Molnar is the Director for the USF Center for HIV Education and Research. Ms. Molnar came to the Florida Mental Health Institute in August 1988 as a Program Assistant. During her tenure at USF, she has worked as a Training Support Specialist, Coordinator of Research Programs/Services, Assistant Director of Research Programs/Services and Associate Director. Ms. Molnar currently oversees day-to-day operations, manages all training activities, and is the primary contact for all federal and regional partners. She directs the Center's three funded programs: The Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center, the Perinatal Prevention Project, and the Expanded Testing Initiative. Ms. Molnar earned a Master's degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida in 1995.

Jeffrey Beal, MD, AAHIVS, Principal Investigator/Clinical Director

Jeffrey Beal is the Principal Investigator and Clinical Director for the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center. He also serves as Principle Investigator for the Perinatal HIV Prevention Program, Medical Director of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS for the Florida Department of Health, and Project Director for the University of South Florida’s Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (ETAC) for HRSA’s Hepatitis C Treatment Expansion Initiative Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) grant. Dr. Beal received his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and his medical degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He completed an internship in Family Practice and Internal Medicine at the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa Medical College. He completed the Internal Medicine Residency program and a fourth-year fellowship in Internal Medicine at the University of Oklahoma and then stayed on the faculty, where he developed and ran a specialized clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Gay-Related Immune Deficiency. After 20 years in an academic, clinical research, and private practice setting in Oklahoma, he relocated to Florida where he continues working in the field of HIV/AIDS focused in an administrative and educational capacity. He continues seeing patients in primarily rural health department settings where the need is greatest. Dr. Beal has volunteered in Central America for the past 20 years on various medical missions. At present, he serves as Medical Consultant to JustHope, Inc., an organization that provides base community support, including health care services to residents of Chacraseca, Nicaragua.

The Florida/Caribbean AETC Granted Additional Funding for Testing and Education Programs

(Tampa, FL – September 28, 2011) The F/C AETC has been granted $206,300 in additional funding by the Health Resources and Services Administration to support the implementation of two collaborative efforts to increase HIV testing and to provide prevention education.

The first, the HIV Testing Initiative is aimed toward the CDC's prevention goals, with a focus on increasing HIV testing and knowledge among disproportionately affected groups, including African-American men and women, gay and bisexual men of all races, Latinos, and injection drug users. The project will assist by providing screening and testing initiatives within corresponding jurisdictions, and linking patients to the appropriate care needed. The overall goal is to ensure that HIV testing becomes a part of regular routine health screenings.

The second project, Ask, Screen, Intervene: Integrating HIV Prevention into the Medical Care of Persons Living with HIV is an educational course intended to provide the latest information for clinical providers caring for HIV positive patients. The AETCs will work collaboratively with the STD/HIV Prevention Training Centers and the National Resource Center to implement this program in two community health centers in Miami.

2011 Annual AETC Appreciation Award Recognizes Dr. Joanne Orrick

(Orlando, FL – May 13, 2011) Joanne Orrick, PharmD, received the 2011 Dr. Michael D. Knox Florida/Caribbean AETC Appreciation Award In Recognition of Outstanding Leadership in HIV Education and Quality Care at the 20th Annual HIV Conference of the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center held May 13-14 at the Hilton Orlando. Dr. Orrick is the associate director for the Florida/Caribbean AETC.

Dr. Michael Knox Retires

(Tampa, FL – March 4, 2011) Dr. Michael Knox retires after more than 20 years of service to HIV/AIDS education and research. Dr. Knox founded the USF Center for HIV Education and Research in 1988 and the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center in 1991, serving as director to both. He will now focus his efforts on the US Peace Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)(3), which seeks to demonstrate that advocating for peaceful solutions to international problems is an honorable and socially acceptable activity.

$16 Million Grant: USF to Lead Multi-university AIDS Education Effort

(Tampa, FL - July 1, 2010) Dr. Michael D. Knox, Director of the USF Center for HIV Education and Research was awarded a five-year, $16 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The USF Center, located within the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, was founded by Knox in 1988 and has a long-standing history of successful grant proposals, including several through HRSA. Knox, a Distinguished Professor, has been responsible for securing more than $50 million in external funding since coming to USF in 1986.

Tampa Congresswoman Kathy Castor congratulated Knox for this significant federal award. "HIV/AIDS continues to have a devastating impact in Florida, across the United States and globally," Castor said. "This important work at USF will make a difference for Floridians and for our friends in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean." According to Knox, the new grant will be used to operate the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (F/C AETC), which will provide targeted, multi-disciplinary education and training programs for healthcare providers treating persons with HIV/AIDS throughout Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). (More)

Photo From L to R: Dr. Jeffrey Beal, Kim Molnar, Dr. Michael D. Knox

Dr. Michael Knox, Dr. Gloria Callwood, and Dr. Jeffrey Beal

2010 Annual AETC Appreciation Award Recognizes Dr. Gloria B. Callwood

(Orlando, FL - May 14, 2010) Gloria B. Callwood, Ph.D., R.N., received the 2010 AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) Appreciation Award In Recognition of Outstanding Leadership in HIV Education and Quality Care. The award was announced at the 19th Annual HIV Conference of the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (F/C AETC), held May 14-15 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando.

Presenting the award to Dr. Callwood was Dr. Michael Knox, Director of the F/C AETC. In his opening plenary remarks, Dr. Knox noted that the two had been colleagues since 2002 when the Florida/Caribbean AETC was established. He added that she has provided excellent leadership to meet training needs throughout the Virgin Islands. Knox said, “It is great to be among dedicated professionals who lead the fight against HIV/AIDS.” Dr. Callwood is a Professor of Nursing, Division of Nursing at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, a clinical specialist in psychiatric/mental health nursing, and leader of the Center’s training program in the US Virgin Islands.

Each year, the Florida/Caribbean AETC recognizes one individual for their outstanding service and accomplishments. The conference was attended by over 300 participants, representing 24 states and territories plus three countries.

Left Photo: Dr. Michael D. Knox and Dr. Gloria B. Callwood

Right Photo: Dr. Michael D. Knox, Dr. Gloria B. Callwood, and Dr. Jeffrey Beal.

USF Center Receives $2.7 Million to Continue Support of Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center

(Tampa, FL - July 1, 2009) Dr. Michael D. Knox recently received notice from the U.S. Public Health Service's Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) of continuation funding in the amount of $2.7 million to support the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (F/C AETC).

This grant supports ongoing HIV/AIDS education and consultation to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, and other health care professionals in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many of these providers practice in areas where the majority of their patients are from minority and other underserved populations. "Florida/Caribbean AETC training reaches out to such providers in order to increase their capacity for treating HIV infected patients," stated Dr. Knox.

The Florida/Caribbean AETC is operated by the USF Center for HIV Education and Research, which Dr. Knox founded in 1988. He has since been responsible for over $35 million in HIV/AIDS related funding, helping to provide training to more than 300,000 health and mental health care professionals throughout Florida and the Caribbean.

The grant which began July 1, 2009, funds a network of training partners, including the University of Puerto Rico, the University of Florida, the University of Miami, Florida A&M University, and the University of the Virgin Islands. "These are premier institutions and we are pleased to have brought them all together in this effort," added Knox. "The grant monies are used to leverage these vast resources and accomplish three primary goals: to improve the quality of care provided to HIV-infected persons, to increase the number of health care providers capable of diagnosing and treating HIV, to disseminate up-to-date prevention and treatment information to health care providers."

"We find ourselves dealing with a constantly changing epidemic," said Knox, "and a constantly evolving and specialized response is needed to ensure that patients will live longer and healthier lives."

Housed within the USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, the USF Center for HIV Education and Research operates in collaboration with the USF College of Medicine's Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, and the USF Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Knox is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy.

Dr. Michael Knox, Professor Daisy Gely, and Dr. Jeffrey Beal

2009 Annual AETC Appreciation Award Recognizes Professor Daisy Gely

(Orlando, FL - May 1, 2009) Each year the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (F/C AETC) recognizes one individual for their service and accomplishments in the field of HIV/AIDS. This year's recipient, Professor Daisy Gely, is the leader of the F/C AETC training program in Puerto Rico and Professor of Health Education at the University of Puerto Rico. Before joining the Florida/Caribbean AETC in 2002, Professor Gely served as Director of the Puerto Rico AETC since 1988. The AETC is especially thankful for her many years of dedicated service to health care providers and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Recent past recipients of this award include David Waldron (2008), Dr. Paul Arons (2007), Tom Liberti (2006), Dr. Jeffrey Beal (2005), and Dr. Corklin Steinhart (2004).

Photo: Dr. Michael D. Knox, Professor Daisy Gely, and Dr. Jeffrey Beal.

18th Annual HIV Conference Held by Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center Dr. Nadler discussing the strategy and paradigm of emerging antiretroviral therapy.

(Orlando, FL - May 1 and 2, 2009) The Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (F/C AETC) held its 18th Annual HIV Conference May 1st and 2nd in Orlando. A total of 385 attendees participated in the event. Participants came from 21 states and territories, and three countries. The conference focused on the most up-to-date treatment of HIV and related conditions for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and pharmacists who work on the front-line of HIV/AIDS care. Dr. Jeffrey Nadler, Acting Director of the Therapeutics Research Program in the Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (DAIDS), and Professor of Medicine at George Washington University, was the Plenary Speaker. All handouts and slide sets from the 2-day educational event are available online.

The F/C AETC 19th Annual Conference is scheduled for May 14th and 15th, 2010 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

Conference participants enjoy the evening reception

Right Photo: Dr. Nadler discusses the strategy and paradigm of emerging antiretroviral therapy

Left Photo: Conference participants enjoy the evening reception

USF HIV Center Receives Additional CDC Funding

(Tampa, FL, November 1, 2007) Michael D. Knox, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director, announced today that the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) at the University of South Florida has been awarded funding for two projects aimed at expanding HIV testing capacity in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The AETC is operated by the USF Center for HIV Education and Research within the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at the Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI).

The grants are awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which recently endorsed a new set of guidelines recommending routine HIV testing in a variety of health care settings. The goal is to identify a greater proportion of infected individuals than conventional risk-based testing models detect. Currently, an estimated 25% of all persons who are HIV infected do not know their status and are not receiving the care they need.

The first grant provides $95,000 in funding for the Florida/Caribbean AETC to partner with correctional facilities and STD clinics in Florida, in addition to hospital labor and delivery centers in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The second grant brings $200,000 of funding from the CDC in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to increase testing in Florida counties with the greatest racial and ethnic disparities among those living with HIV/AIDS. This initiative will mainly target hospital emergency rooms and labor and delivery rooms.

The Florida/Caribbean AETC will develop training curricula and educational materials for health care providers and their clients, provide technical assistance to establish rapid testing protocols in hospital delivery centers and emergency rooms, and collect and analyze data to monitor the progress of HIV testing efforts. Hilda Leon, RN, will be responsible for perinatal training and technical assistance, and Research Assistant Jennifer Syvertsen will provide project coordination.

Florida/Caribbean AETC Builds Walgreens Pharmacy Partnership

(Tampa, FL - March 3, 2006) Michael Knox, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director, announced today that the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) has developed a partnership with Walgreens Pharmacy. The AETC operates within the USF Center for HIV Education and Research at the University of South Florida.

According to Dr. Knox, “Walgreens approached our Marketing Coordinator, Jason Longo for an efficient solution to providing Antiretroviral Therapy guidelines to all of their pharmacists and he promptly created a special link to our online version, which we update regularly. When printed the cards are designed to be folded and carried in a lab-coat pocket for easy reference.”

Walgreens announced the drug reference card to 5000 stores and to all management by e-mail. Additionally, their “What's New” newsletter included information about the link. This link resides on every Walgreens Pharmacy computer (25,000 computer terminals). 20,000 pharmacists and 80,000 technicians are now able to view and print this at will. Walgreens is the largest drug store chain by sales, and second by store count. In 2005 alone, they fulfilled 490 million prescriptions.

Almost 6,000 Walgreens downloads were recorded by the AETC in the first 100 days. Feedback has shown that pharmacists are pleased to have this information available at their fingertips, and have found the card to be a valuable resource. This week the AETC added its “Antiretroviral Agents - Pediatric Edition” to the Walgreens terminals. The relationship will continue as new AETC resources are developed.

Click here to view all clinical pocket reference guides.

USF HIV Center Receives $115,000 Grant for Mental Health / Substance Abuse / HIV Project

(Tampa, FL - October 1, 2005) Michael Knox, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director, announced that the USF Center for HIV Education and Research has received a grant of $115,000 to increase the number of physicians capable of diagnosing and treating mental health and substance abuse disorders among HIV infected patients. Funding is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through a supplement to the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) grant.

Dr. Knox will serve as the Principal Investigator and Julie Baldwin, Ph.D., Professor of Community and Family Health, will provide leadership and coordination of the project. In addition, Martha Friedrich, Ph.D., Associate Director of the AETC, will help design a comprehensive approach to evaluate the project using outcome-based performance measurements. Department of Psychiatry faculty who will also have a major role in the project include Drs. Frank Fernandez (Chair), Carlos Santana, and Orlando Ruano. The grant work began in October.

Following an initial needs assessment related to HIV/AIDS and mental health co-morbidities, faculty will develop curricula and conduct several trainings for health care professionals who provide services for HIV infected patients throughout Florida and Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands

USF HIV Center Receives Federal Grant to Train Providers

(Tampa, FL - July 1, 2005) Dr. Michael D. Knox, founder and director of the USF Center for HIV Education and Research, announced today that the Center has been awarded a highly competitive, five year grant to provide HIV/AIDS training to health care providers in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, a region that ranks among the top ten states/territories affected by HIV. Awarded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the grant is the largest in the Center's history, and will allow for continuation and further development of its Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (F/C AETC).

AETCs are federally mandated to “train health personnel in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HIV disease.” In order to meet this mandate, the Florida/Caribbean AETC will offer expert clinical consultation on all aspects of managing patient care, intensive clinical preceptorships and mini-residencies, workshops and seminars, publications, hands-on supervised clinical experience, and technical assistance on HIV/AIDS clinical issues.

Dr. Michael Knox and Shalewa Noel-Thomas

USF HIV Center Receives $350,000 Grant for Perinatal HIV Prevention Project

(Tampa, FL - July 1, 2005) The USF Center for HIV Education and Research has been awarded $350,000 by the Florida Department of Health. According to Dr. Michael Knox, director of the USF Center, “ Florida ranks second in the country for total HIV/AIDS pediatric cases. Of these cases, 94% were infected by perinatal transmission. This is particularly troubling when considering perinatal transmission of HIV can be prevented,” added Dr. Knox.

The Perinatal HIV Prevention Project will be coordinated by Shalewa Noel-Thomas, MPH. “Its primary purpose is to provide Perinatal HIV education to healthcare workers, review clinical procedures and protocols for HIV infected pregnant women, as well as provide training and technical assistance regarding Rapid HIV Testing,” stated Ms. Noel-Thomas. The funding was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through a state of Florida contract.

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