What was the most difficult issue you had to deal with when you started?  “With the funds provided by Ryan White Title III in 1999, New Horizon Family Health Service hired a program manager, intake nurse and dietitian – all with no experience in HIV management – to coordinate and expand care to approximately 350 HIV-positive patients. We took off running, fought some hard won battles, had good and bad days, and in the end, along with some very dedicated providers and visionaries, we have developed an excellent center for comprehensive health care that now serves 750 patients,” states Ms. Glynn. “Personally my most difficult challenge was to establish rapport with all my patients, most of who had never been to a dietitian and did not trust the health care system. Through this contact I have been able to advocate for healthy lifestyle changes and have seen some individuals make remarkable progress. In return, they have taught me so much about life.”

Who is your best ally? Allies include everyone, from the providers to case managers who are very “pro-nutrition”. They realize the importance of nutrition in HIV management and go out of their way to assist patients in making healthy lifestyle changes. In addition, Ms. Glynn is constantly contacted to be involved in the medical care when a patient has a nutritional problem. 

What differences exist between current clientele and that of the HIV-positive person in the early 1980s? Although Ms. Glynn has only three years experience with the HIV/AIDS population, she has noticed a dramatic increase in heterosexual adults over the age of 50.