VCU School of Medicine Joins the Journey of Hope

By Jessica Ferreira
VCU Communications and Public Relations

A bundle of energy with a bright smile, 8-year-old Kaia stood at the front of the auditorium and delivered her first speech in front of an audience. She didn’t talk about her favorite animal or her best subject in school. Instead, she told everyone she is a friendly, normal girl and no one should be afraid to hold her hand. She is a young girl living with HIV, speaking out about her story to provide awareness and hope.

Kaia was one of four speakers at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine on March 22 for the Journey of Hope HIV/AIDS Awareness seminar hosted by the student chapter of Physicians for Human Rights, the Student Government Association and One Heartland.

One Heartland is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of children, youth and their families impacted by HIV/AIDS and other significant life challenges worldwide.

Mona Singh, medical student and member of VCU’s student chapter of Physicians for Human Rights, began planning the program with the group last July.

“Anita Mulye, health action AIDS Coordinator for our PHR chapter, had attended a Journey of Hope session before medical school,” Singh said. “Since it had been such a powerful experience for her, she believed inviting children from Camp Heartland would be a special way to celebrate World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.”

Although funding was low and the event could not take place in December as planned, Singh and fellow club members continued to work behind the scenes to make the presentation possible.

One Heartland's Journey of Hope HIV/AIDS Awareness Program has traveled throughout the United States for 16 years increasing HIV awareness, prevention, education and testing. The speakers on the tour are children affected by HIV, poverty and other challenges.

Janet Osherow, family services coordinator in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Department at Georgetown University, has been a volunteer for One Heartland and a frequent Journey of Hope speaker since 1993.

“The opportunity to speak at Journey of Hope presentations has given a lot of our youth meaning -- the ability to share their stories helps them almost have a ‘reason’ for having to battle this illness,” Osherow said. “If they can prevent one more person from contracting this illness, then they know they've done a good thing.

“We should all do our part to help spread the message that HIV is a manageable illness and no one should be afraid to step up,” Osherow said. “Just care and treat people with HIV the same as you would anyone else.”