While at AIDS 2012, we had a chance to talk with Thomas Tesoriero, MD, an internist at Kaiser Permanente’s Capitol Hill Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and vice chair of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group Board of Directors. Dr. Tesoriero joined KP in 1984 shortly after the HIV/AIDS pandemic began, and he was one of the first members of the Inter-regional AIDS Committee, which took a closer look at how the health organization cared for patients with HIV. Additionally, his knowledge and feedback was instrumental in helping Kaiser Permanente develop “Secrets,” a live theater production presented in schools free of charge. Considered very forward thinking and controversial at the time, “Secrets” educated adolescents about prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.
Dr. Tesoriero volunteered at the International AIDS Conference in The Lounge for People Living with HIV/AIDS (Positive Lounge), which was sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. The purpose of the Positive Lounge is to serve as a place of rest, support and networking and is expected to have around 12,000 visits during the five days of conference. Below, check out his reflections on the decades he’s spent working with HIV patients.
