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GW administrator reflects on HIV/AIDS epidemic

Dr. Jeffrey Akman to become honorary chair of administrative medicine

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Jeffrey Akman, George Washington University Hospital, gay news, Washington Blade
Jeffrey Akman, George Washington University Hospital, gay news, Washington Blade

Dr. Jeffrey Akman, dean of George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. (Photo courtesy of George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.)

A prominent figure in the fight against HIV/AIDS in D.C. will formally become the honorary chair of administrative medicine at George Washington University next week.

Dr. Jeffrey Akman on Oct. 23 will be formally confirmed as the Bloedorn Chair of Administrative Medicine named in honor of former George Washington University School of Medicine Dean Walter Bloedorn who held the position from 1939-1957. Bloedorn also served as the George Washington University Hospital Medical Director from 1932-1957.

This appointment comes less than a year after the GW Board of Trustees appointed Akman as the vice president for health affairs and the dean of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

ā€œTo me itā€™s the best job I could ever have,ā€ Akman told the Washington Blade during a recent interview.

A native of Baltimore, Akman enrolled in the GW doctoral program in 1977 after he graduated from Duke University.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1981 reported the first cases of what became known as AIDS ā€” Akman graduated from GWā€™s M.D. program the same year. D.C. health officials observed the first known AIDS case in the city in 1983.

ā€œWe were really not prepared in terms of medical knowledge at that time,ā€ Akman, who was a psychiatry resident at GW in 1983, recalled. ā€œ[We] really became aware of these young gay men coming into our hospital with this unknown awful illness that people were dying from very rapidly. I was just compelled to go into their rooms and sit and talk to them and find out what was going on.ā€

Researchers did not discover an AIDS anti-body test until 1985, but doctors in the Dupont Circle area soon began to refer their patients with the virus to GW Hospital once they diagnosed them with the virus after they came down with pneumocystis pneumonia, Kaposiā€™s sarcoma or what Akman described as ā€œsome awful opportunistic infection.ā€

Akman said a significant portion of his work at the time was talking with his patients about death and dying, AIDS-related dementia and the stigma and fear and anxiety associated with the virus. He also began to receive referrals from infectious disease experts and other D.C. doctors as the number of people with AIDS continued to grow.

Some of Akmanā€™s friends were also living with AIDS.

ā€œWe as a medical center we were incredibly responsive,ā€ he told the Blade, discussing stories of doctors refusing to treat people with the virus and nurses and other hospital staff leaving trays of food outside the rooms of their patients with AIDS that emerged at the time. ā€œThat really was not the case here. There was a lot of work done internally… we really felt very good and had very strong connections in the community.ā€

Akman: I lost ā€˜a lot of friendsā€™ to AIDS

Akman began to volunteer at Whitman-Walker Clinic in the mid-1980s as the epidemic in D.C. and elsewhere continued to expand. He served on the organizationā€™s board of directors for 10 years ā€“ and he was president of it when Whitman-Walker opened the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center on 14th Street, N.W., in 1993.

Akman’s late partner, Steven Dixon, who was a physician and a fellow GW alum, chaired some of the organizationā€™s first AIDS Walks. He and Akman also supported Food and Friends.

ā€œI lost a lot of friends during the time,ā€ Akman told the Blade. ā€œAll of us in our way kept lists of who died. We were caregivers. We were building a community response. We were fundraising.ā€

Fight against AIDS in D.C. is ā€˜moving in the right directionā€™

Akman, who is a member of the D.C. Mayorā€™s Commission on HIV/AIDS, spoke to the Blade a day after city officials released an annual report that documents the epidemic in the nationā€™s capital.

The report noted 15,056 D.C. residents ā€“ or 2.4 percent of Washingtonians ā€“ were living with HIV at the end of 2011. Men who have sex with men and heterosexual sexual contact were the two leading modes of transmission among newly diagnosed HIV cases, but the report found they decreased 46 percent from 2007.

The report also found the number of HIV/AIDS-related deaths in D.C. dropped from 425 in 2007 to 251 in 2011. And 80 percent of those who learned they were living with the virus in 2011 were linked to care within three months of their diagnosis.

ā€œMy sense is that weā€™re moving in the right direction,ā€ Akman said. ā€œThe numbers of are definitely improving.ā€

Akman applauded the way he says D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray has focused on getting people with HIV into treatment, expanding testing, training health care providers and ensuring there is not a waiting list in the nation’s capital for people who seek access to anti-retroviral drugs. He also praised the way former D.C. mayors responded to the epidemic within the context of the information, research and other resources that were available to them at the time.

ā€œIt feels like weā€™re turning the corner in the District of Columbia,ā€ Akman said. ā€œWeā€™ve still got work to do, but the trends are all looking good.ā€

HIV/AIDS service providers with whom Akman worked applauded his recent appointment and his advocacy on behalf of people with the virus in D.C.

ā€œThrough his leadership of Whitman-Walkerā€™s board of directors in the early 1990s, we witnessed firsthand his strong clinical leadership, his unwavering commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS in D.C. and his tremendous compassion for those most in need of high-quality health care,ā€ Whitman-Walker CEO Don Blanchon told the Blade. ā€œHe is a servant leader in every sense of the word.ā€

ā€œJeff is a strong consensus builder on this campus, dedicated to the GW community and is committed to defining the future of medicine here at GW,ā€ GW Hospital CEO Barry Wolfman said in a January press release that announced Akmanā€™s appointment as the vice president for health affairs and dean of the universityā€™s School of Medicine and Health Services

D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who was executive director of Whitman-Walker at the time Akman was president of the organization’s board, also applauded his appointment.

“This is somebody who is so substantive and so talented when he was a volunteer at Whitman-Walker,” Graham told the Blade. “He was a major player for us and was really so experienced and smart.”

Akman was the assistant dean for student educational policies at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences from 1991-2000. He chaired the universityā€™s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences from 2000-2010.

Akman told the Blade his new position allows him to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS he joined more than three decades ago.

ā€œIt gives me a brand new platform to deal with HIV/AIDS,ā€ he said. ā€œItā€™s a new platform for me to bring the schoolā€™s resources to bare.ā€

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Miscellaneous

What it means to be an active ally to your LGBTQ+ co-workers TEST

Five easy tips to help you avoid common risks

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Be sure to install baby gates if you have stairs in your home with young children. (Photo by Kasia Bialasiewicz/Bigstock)

Your home is more than just a place to eat and sleep; it’s your safe haven. As much as you might cherish your home, you should probably also recognize the potential hazards within its familiar walls. Accidents can happen in an instant, yet with a little foresight and some simple adjustments, you can transform your house into a safer haven. 

Accidents can happen anywhere, and with a few simple tweaks, you can lower risks in your space. Below youā€™ll find five tips for each room in your home to help prevent injuries, falls, and other mishaps. In short, home safety. 

This article was inspired by a shower in a rental we managed that began leaking through the kitchen ceiling below. If only the landlord had installed grab bars, right!? Below, we’ll guide you through the steps to fortify your bathroom, making it a place of relaxation without the fear of slips and falls. Then, we’ll venture into the room where the magic happens, where proper planning can ensure great nights and peaceful mornings. We’ll show you how to prevent accidents while you experiment becoming the next Gordon Ramsey. And weā€™ll include a few surprising solutions for those other rooms that hold their own unique hazards, offering solutions to safeguard against unexpected mishaps.

Bathroom Safety

Install Grab Bars: Adding grab bars near the shower and toilet can provide essential support for family members of all ages. Not only can they help with getting in and out, but they can help provide stability when washing. Make sure they are securely anchored to the wall.

Non-Slip Mats: Place non-slip mats inside the shower and bathtub to prevent slips. They’re a small investment that can save you from falls and head injuries.

Adjust Water Temperature:  Ensure your hot water is set to a safe temperature to avoid scalding. The hot water heater should be set to around 120Ā°F (49Ā°C)l, the middle setting on many water heater settings. 

Medicine Cabinet Locks: If you have young children, use childproof locks on your medicine cabinet to keep harmful substances out of reach.

Proper Lighting: Ensure there’s adequate lighting in the bathroom to avoid trips and falls during nighttime visits. Nightlights can be a simple and effective solution. 

Bedroom Safety

Clear Pathways: Keep pathways in the bedroom clutter free to prevent tripping. Ensure there’s enough space to move around comfortably, particularly getting around the bed.  Be aware where all furniture is when walking around to avoid stubbed toes, particularly at night.

Secure Rugs: If you have throw rugs, use rug grippers or double-sided tape to keep them from slipping. Loose rugs are a common trip hazard. 

Bed Rails: For anyone at risk of falling out of bed, consider installing bed rails to provide extra support and prevent falls.

Nightstands with Drawers: Opt for nightstands with drawers to keep essential items.  This reduces the need to get out of bed at night, minimizing the risk of falls, as you race to grab what you need and not lose a momentā€™s rest.

Fire Safety: Install battery-operated smoke detectors in the bedrooms if there are none. Make sure to install them 36 inches away from an air vent or the edge of a ceiling fan.  Also six inches away from the joint between the wall and ceiling.  And test smoke detectors regularly.

Kitchen Safety

Non-Slip Flooring: Choose slip-resistant rugs in the kitchen, especially in areas where spills are common. Mats near the sink and stove can also help and you can often buy them fairly cheaply at Costco.

Childproof Cabinets: If you have little ones, use childproof latches on cabinets and drawers to prevent them from accessing potentially hazardous items.

Anti-tip brackets: Install an anti-tip bracket behind the range. These are often used when children are in the home. Although they are less likely to open the oven door and use it as a step stool to get to the stove-top, adults can also benefit from installing these. 

Adequate Lighting: Proper lighting is crucial in the kitchen to avoid accidents. Under-cabinet lighting can illuminate work areas effectively.

Secure Heavy Items: Ensure heavy pots and pans are stored at waist level to prevent straining or dropping them from high shelves.

Sharp Object Storage: Keep knives and other sharp objects in a secure drawer or block. And handle all sharp items with extreme care, even when washing and drying. These steps reduce the risk of accidental cuts.  

Other Safety Tips

Furniture Anchors: Secure heavy furniture, like bookshelves and dressers, to the wall to prevent tip-overs, especially if you have young children.

Adequate Outlets: Check for damaged outlets and replace them promptly. Avoid overloading circuits with too many devices. Install placeholder plugs in outlets to prevent young curious fingers (or tongues?) from going inside an electrical outlet.

Stair Gates: If your home has stairs, install safety gates at the top and bottom to prevent falls, especially if you have toddlers or pets to keep them off of the stairs when you cannot monitor them.

Emergency Escape Plan: Develop and practice an emergency escape plan with your family, including a designated meeting place outside.

Carbon Monoxide Detector:  If your home burns any fossil fuels for heating or appliances, install carbon monoxide detectors in common areas of your home to detect this odorless gas. The D.C. building codes require this if you use a fireplace or if you have an attached garage. In essence, if there is any potential source of carbon monoxide in the home, be sure to install these detectors.

Remember, a safer home not only prevents accidents but also provides peace of mind for you and your family. Implement these simple tips to create a secure environment in every room of your house.

With these practical tips and a few adjustments, you can significantly reduce the risk of injuries and falls in your home. Enjoy peace of mind in your now much safer haven.

Scott Bloom is owner and senior property manager of Columbia Property Management.

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Celebrity News

Lizzo makes $50K donation to Marsha P. Johnson Institute

Singer is vocal LGBTQ ally

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Lizzo at the 65th Grammy Awards (Screenshot from the Grammy Awards)

When Lizzo sings “If I’m shinin,’ everybody gonna shine,ā€ in her hit song, “Juice,” she means it. Proof of that came this week on Instagram when the LGBTQ ally announced the first winner of her annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign is the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, a national nonprofit based in Richmond, Calif., dedicated to the protection and defense of Black transgender people. 

And she did so in song: ā€œOn the first day of Juneteenth, Lizzo gave to me,ā€ she sang in her video, posted Tuesday, as she revealed her $50,000 gift to MPJI.

ā€œThatā€™s right, we know who Marsha P. Johnson is. We know what Marsha P. Johnson has done for the LGBTQ, emphasis on that ā€˜T,ā€™ Q community,ā€ said Lizzo to her 13.5 million followers. ā€œThank you so much to the people at the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. You deserve this, and I hope this helps you so much as you help protect our Black trans family.ā€ 

ā€œWhat the Marsha P. Johnson Institute does is protects and defends the rights of Black transgender people. They do this by organizing community, advocating for the people, and creating an intentional healing community, developing transformative leadership and promoting collective power,ā€ she said. 

ā€œWe are overjoyed for the shoutout from Lizzo today, the generosity of her sharing her platform and the recognition of MPJI and its work,ā€ said Elle Moxley, MPJIā€™s executive director. ā€œThe resources from this campaign will ensure the protection and defense of Black transgender people continue at a time where it is so vitally needed. We are so grateful for the support of Lizzo and her fans.ā€

As one of Time Magazineā€™s Persons of the Year for 2019 and a 2023 Grammy winner, Lizzo is more than a pop star but an inspiration to millions of fans for her body-positive attitude, her self-confidence on stage and in her videos, her empowering music and her activism. Sheā€™s also the founder of her own clothing line, Yitty. In 2021, she made headlines when she publicly corrected a paparazzo for using ā€œshe/herā€ pronouns and misgendering Demi Levato.

As part of her campaign, now in its 4th year, Lizzo recognizes Black-led grassroots organizations and businesses and encourages her fans to join her in supporting each of the five organizations she highlights this week. Fans who take action by donating are  entered into a drawing for an all-expenses paid trip to see her perform at Fuji Rock in Japan later this year. 

This weekā€™s other nonprofits receiving gifts are: Black Girls Smile, Sphinx Music, the University of Houston and Save Our Sisters United.

Find out more about Lizzoā€™s 4th annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign by clicking here.

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Celebrity News

Anne Heche dies after removal from life support

Actress dated Ellen DeGeneres in late 1990s

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(Screenshot/YouTube Inside Edition)

Actress Anne Heche died after she was removed from life support on Sunday, nearly two weeks after her Mini-Cooper crashed through a two-story house in Los Angelesā€™ Mar Vista neighborhood. Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department believe she was intoxicated at the time.

She sustained a severe anoxic brain injury along with severe burns and was being treated at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital, near Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley.

The 53-year-old actress who was a star of films likeĀ “Donnie Brasco,” the political satireĀ “Wag the Dog”Ā and the 1998 remake ofĀ “Psycho,” had been declared legally dead under California law on Friday, however, her family kept her alive long enough to be an organ donor.

In a statement Friday, the LAPD announced that: ā€œAs of today, there will be no further investigative efforts made in this case. Any information or records that have been requested prior to this turn of events will still be collected as they arrive as a matter of formalities and included in the overall case. When a person suspected of a crime expires, we do not present for filing consideration.ā€ LAPD detectives had previously made public that investigators into the crash found narcotics in a blood sample taken from Heche.

The actress’s family released a statement on Friday:

“Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend. Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact,” the statement added.

Heche was married to camera operator Coleman Laffoon from 2001 to 2009. The two had a son, Homer, together. She had another son, named Atlas, during a relationship with actor James Tupper, her co-star on the TV series ā€œMen In Trees.ā€

Laffoon left a moving tribute on an Instagram reel in which he also gave an update on how their 20-year-old son Homer Laffoon is coping with the loss of his mother.

“I loved her and I miss her, and I’m always going to,” he said adding: “Homer is okay. He’s grieving, of course, and it’s rough. It’s really rough, as probably anybody can imagine. But he’s surrounded by family and he’s strong, and he’s gonna be okay.”

“Rest In Peace, Mom, I love you, Homer,ā€ the actor’s 20-year-old son, Homer, said in a statement after Heche was declared legally dead on Friday.ā€œ My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom,ā€ read the statement. ā€œAfter six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness. Hopefully, my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom. Over those six days, thousands of friends, family, and fans made their hearts known to me. I am grateful for their love, as I am for the support of my Dad, Coley, and my stepmom Alexi who continue to be my rock during this time. Rest In Peace Mom, I love you, Homer.ā€

Tupper, a Canadian actor who starred alongside Heche in “Men in Trees,” had a 13-year-old son,Ā Atlas, withĀ her. “Love you forever,” Tupper, 57, wrote on his Instagram post’s caption with a broken heart emoji, which shared an image of the actress from Men in Trees.

Between 1997 and 2000, Heche was also in a relationship with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

“This is a sad day,” DeGeneres posted on Twitter. “I’m sending Anne’s children, family and friends all of my love.” The year after her break-up with the comedian, in September 2001, Heche recounted in her memoir “Call Me Crazy,ā€ about her lifelong struggles with mental health and a childhood of abuse.

KTLA’s entertainment reporter Sam Rubin noted that over the past two decades, Hecheā€™s career pivoted several times. In 2017, she hosted a weekly radio show on SiriusXM with Jason Ellis called ā€œLove and Heche.ā€

In 2020, Heche made her way into the podcast world. She launched ā€œBetter Togetherā€ which she cohosted alongside Heather Duffy Boylston. The show was described as a way to celebrate friendship. 

She also worked in smaller films, on Broadway, and on TV shows. She recently had recurring roles on the network series ā€œChicago P.D.,ā€ and ā€œAll Riseā€ and was a contestant on ā€œDancing with the Stars.ā€

People magazine reported that several of Hecheā€™s acting projects are expected to be released posthumously.

These includeĀ “Girl in Room 13,” expected to be released on Lifetime in September,Ā “What Remains,” scheduled to be released in 2023, and HBO Max TV seriesĀ “The Idol,” created by Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson.

In her Instagram post from earlier this year Heche stands between her sons Atlas, 13 and Homer, 20.

From KTLA:

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