LIVE Magazine Issue #267 February 8, 2018

health fairs and food banks, to Walgreens and
D.A.P.’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK.
By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed
HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral
therapy.
Thanks to attendance at the Steve Chase and
other fundraising events, Desert AIDS Project ensures
that newly-diagnosed HIV positive patients
receive the medications they need to survive and
thrive, and regular follow-ups to safeguard their
well-being. D.A.P.’s Patient Assistance Program
secures critical HIV and other medications at
reduced cost.
Dr. Shubha Kerka
In her early career at D.A.P., when AIDS was a
death-sentence, she worked toward setting up
an HIV/ AIDS Health Center at DRMC, to care
for D.A.P. clients who needed hospitalization
and hospice care. With modern medicine, her
practice has evolved into skilled management
for many of these clients, allowing them to lead
healthy, productive lives. She is also involved
with research into newer medicines; those able
to cure infections such as Hepatitis C.
Dr. Kerkar is Board Certified in Infectious Diseases
and for 12 years has maintained certification and
credentialing by the American Academy of HIV
Medicine (AAHIVS). She has been nominated as
the Top Doctor in Infectious Diseases by Castle
Connelly Survey every year since 2005 and has
received multiple Palm Springs Life Top Doctor
Awards in the Specialty of Infectious Diseases. Dr.
Kerkar is on active staff at Desert Regional Medical
Center and Eisenhower Medical Center.
Co-chairs Patrick Jordan and Lauri Kibby will
join Senator Barbara Boxer on February 10
when they welcome more than 1,500 D.A.P.
supporters at the 2018 Steve Chase Humanitarian
Awards benefiting Desert AIDS Project. The
party begins with red carpet arrivals LIVE on
KMIR and KESQ at the Palm Springs Convention
Center at 5:30pm. A new red carpet fashion
experience will feature Palm Springs Fashion Editor,
Susan Stein, Ethylina Canne, and Salvador
Camarena. The awards kick off at 7:00 PM and
will feature En Vogue as headline entertainment
and Thelma Houston at the after-party.
Powerful momentum is now building towards
a new narrative on HIV treatment and a new,
final, ambitious, but achievable target: 90-90-
90: Treatment for All
By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will
know their HIV status.
People can carry the HIV virus for years and not
know it. The only way to know if you have HIV
is to get tested. Your support enables D.A.P.’s
Get Tested Coachella Valley program to provide
free and confidential HIV testing at hundreds of
community events and dozens of test sites – from
By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral
therapy will have viral suppression. To
suppress the virus to an undetectable level, an
individual must start on medication as early as
possible and stay on it for a lifetime. This can be
challenging when facing other serious challenges.
That’s the driving force behind D.A.P.
Total Care – the comprehensive combination of
health and wellness services which are uniquely
tailored to each individual – including medical,
dental, mental health, social services, support
groups, substance abuse counseling, and much
more – all conveniently provided under one roof
at D.A.P.’s Palm Springs location.
Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards 2018 Schedule
of Events February 10, 2018
5:30 PM
Red Carpet Arrivals
Cocktails
Silent Auction
7:00 PM
Dinner
Awards
Entertainment
En Vogue
9:30 PM
After Party featuring Thelma Houston
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