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What was the most difficult issue you had to deal with when you started? Stuart reports that the lack of nutrition program resources was challenging. “When I started, there had never been a Registered Dietitian  at the clinic so I had to develop a program. This included getting appropriate patient education materials, internal referral forms, screening forms and creating polices and procedures.”

Who is your best ally? Stuart notes several key allies including everyone at the clinic. He notes, “They are very supportive of nutrition therapy and very happy he joined the staff. Key allies include his supervisor- Mark Beaty, the medical director- Dr. Robert Bolan and all of the medical providers – nurses, physicians and the Family Nurse Practitioner- Certified (FNP-C).

Are there any differences in clinical care within your population group? Stuart notes that homelessness and transient housing have a significant impact on keeping patients consistently in care. Resources to help patients secure food is also a major concern.

Do you participate regularly in HIV/AIDS networking groups? Yes, the HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association (DPG #29) and the Association of Nutrition Services Alliance (ANSA).

What have you found to be most useful in helping to keep up with the current research on nutrition and HIV? Stuart notes, "The Internet - When research or topics are mentioned in meetings or on the list serve I belong to, the Internet has been very useful in finding research and current data on nutrition and HIV. Also various seminars, conferences and both the DPG #29 list serve and their publication Positive Communications are very useful for staying current on nutrition and HIV ."