COLUMBUS, Ohio--Roxane Laboratories has announced that Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine will implement the Roxane HIV-Pain Scholars program to train physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to treat and manage HIV-related peripheral nerve pain.
"The treatment of pain is important to patients with HIV-related disease," said Justin McArthur, MB, MPH, of Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology and director of the scholarship program. "Many health care providers do not know which therapies to use or how best to use them, and some patients suffer unnecessarily. The Johns Hopkins program will provide practical information for medical professionals specializing in HIV patient care."
Six scholars will be selected by Johns Hopkins each year to accompany Dr. McArthur for 4 days to observe patient evaluations in a multidisciplinary AIDS treatment clinic, a research clinic, and a chronic care AIDS facility. Program participants will also receive individualized tutorials in managing nerve pain, a common symptom of HIV infection.
"This is a hands-on program; participants will see the patients and the benefits of adequate peripheral nerve pain management firsthand," Dr. McArthur said. "We hope participants will return to their institutions and share the information they've received, improving overall HIV pain management."
Physicians, nurses, and pharmacists wishing to apply to the Johns Hopkins program should write to Dr. McArthur at the Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, 600 Wolfe Street, Meyer 6-109, Baltimore, MD 21205, or telephone him at 410-955-3730.
