University of South Florida

About University of South Florida

The USF Pediatric/Adolescent Infectious Diseases HIV Program began in 1990 and is currently under the direction of Dr. Carina Rodriguez, one of our ATN site’sProject Leads. Our program is a regional center of excellence and the only comprehensive HIV care center for children and adolescents in West Central Florida. Following a multidisciplinary, patient-centered medical care model, the program serves infants, children, adolescents, and young adults exposed to or living with HIV in the Tampa Bay region and surrounding areas at three fully equipped clinic locations. Services include linkage to care, on-site testing, rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy, primary and specialty medical care, immunizations, mental health, and substance misuse assessment and counseling, and medical and non-medical case management. The Program offers access to clinical research as part of ATN and multiple sponsored clinical trials including behavioral, psychosocial, and therapeutic studies leveraging its community presence through collaborations with the Florida Department of Health and other community agencies.

In response to the evolving needs of AYA, we developed the Ybor Youth Clinic, a storefront clinic in Tampa that, in collaboration with our local department of health and community partners, provides free HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment to AYA ages 13-24 years. Our Youth Advisory Board serves to inform all aspect of our mission, to provide high quality, innovative, compassionate, and non-judgmental health care services to ALL youth ages 13 to 24 in an environment tailored to their specific and unique needs. Inspired by our community, we work throughout the Tampa Bay region to empower youth and help end the epidemic.