The Divisions of Infectious Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are on the forefront of research, treatment, and support for HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. In addition, the Hospital's physicians provide international medicine services for those traveling abroad.
The HIV/AIDS Program of the Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center provides care to approximately 1650 people infected with HIV, in addition to conducting basic and clinical research. There is a 40-bed AIDS inpatient unit in the Medical Center, as well as a joint effort with the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC). Research in the area of HIV and AIDS includes investigations of antiretroviral therapy, antiretroviral resistance testing, viral co-infections in HIV, methodology of observational studies and clinical trials, hepatitis C/HIV co-infection, and management of hyperlipidemia in HIV.
The faculty of the Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases also staffs the International Health Care Service (IHCS). The IHCS is the only travel health facility affiliated with a prestigious metropolitan hospital and academic medical college. It offers pre- and post-travel consultations and care in tropical medicine and infectious diseases. IHCS physicians are board-certified in infectious diseases and provide travel advice and immunizations for 4500 people each year. It is the only service of this type that provides care to both children and adults.
The Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases also performs clinical services and conducts research into nosocomial infectious and antibacterial resistance, infectious diseases affecting transplant recipients, malaria, and bioterrorism in the hospital setting. The Division works with international institutions in Haiti, Brazil, and India.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center's Division of Infectious Diseases works to bring high-quality medical services to the citizens of the Harlem area through the Harlem Hospital Center. The Harlem community is one of the most poor and medically disadvantaged in the United States, and the prevalence of HIV and risk factors that contribute to it, is high. The Division of Infectious Diseases has played an integral role in providing necessary healthcare services and now is a beacon of support to the Harlem community and the rest of New York City. Through clinical and community-based services, the Division develops programs to provide comprehensive care to persons with infectious diseases, trains doctors in infectious diseases through its fellowship program, and conducts research.
In addition to its HIV and AIDS program, the Division oversees a number of service projects through the Harlem Hospital Center. The Hepatitis C Program provides HIV patients with laboratory tests to screen for the presence of hepatitis C and a wide range of supportive and educational activities. Habari-Bienvenido is a project that focuses on attracting patients with a history of substance abuse and HIV and keeping them actively engaged in ongoing medical care. The Harm Reduction Program deals with substance abuse and HIV by employing one-on-one counseling, group support, and referrals to required services. The Charles P. Felton National Tuberculosis Center at Harlem Hospital is one of three "model centers" funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was created to contribute to the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) as a public health problem through the creation and distribution of training and education materials.