ReACH Core Scholar Waridibo Allison Plays Critical Role in Providing Specialty-Level Care in Underserved Areas

Dr. Waridibo Allison, an Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease at UT Health San Antonio and the ReACH Center are working to improve health outcomes for patients living in rural, remote and underserved communities throughout Texas through the recent launch of the first UT Health San Antonio ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). Using the teleECHO model developed at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Allison and a team of infectious disease specialists gather in an online forum twice a month to help primary care physicians throughout Texas treat hepatitis C virus in patients with HIV by guiding them through the treatment process and connecting them to additional resources. Dr. Allison's ECHO is a part of the Targeted Access to Community Knowledge, Linkage to treatment and Education for HIV/HCV in people of color (TACKLE HIV/HCV in people of color). TACKLE HIV/HCV is a multifaceted program to improve prevention, care, treatment and cure of HCV in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in South Texas and is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Click here to read a recent article from the Rivard Report that highlights this unique program that is helping to empower physicans to provide specialist care.