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t m c » p u l s e | j u n e 2 0 1 7 17 Because of the three-drug cocktail, the virus became something more than manageable. It became undetectable. "People who are first infected have over a mil- lion copies of virus in each milliliter of blood," Flash explained. "Once they get on medication, that number comes down. The lowest amount that our machines can measure is less than 20 copies and once it gets to 20 copies, we call that undetectable. With older medicine it would take about six months to get there, three months with newer medicine. That doesn't mean that the person is cured, but it does mean that in their plasma there is no circulating virus." Watching each other grow old Although Thomas Street Health Center has shifted its focus to preventative care to reduce the rates of new HIV/AIDS cases, the threat of infection remains. offer all of the specialty care that a patient will need," Malone said. "Our doctors are excellent and we have both medical schools, UT Health and Baylor, which is unique; we are lucky to have both of them here for our patients." The center also spearheads research initiatives to provide the most effective and efficient care. "HIV/AIDS has gone from being a death sentence to a chronic manageable disease," Giordano said. "We can give our patients legitimate hope to live for decades after their diagnosis. Some of the patients I had when I first started here 20 years ago are still here and we have watched each other grow old." … HIV/AIDS has gone from being a death sentence to a chronic manageable disease. We can give our patients legitimate hope to live for decades after their diagnosis. Some of the patients I had when I first started here 20 years ago are still here and we have watched each other grow old. — THOMAS GIORDANO, M.D. Medical director of Thomas Street Health Center "Even though we do really powerful work in taking care of people with HIV/AIDS through testing, there are some people who despite the counseling that is given, you just feel as though eventually they are going to get infected," Flash said. "Before, you felt like there was nothing you could do. You were just waiting for them to get infected so you could take care of them and put them on medication, but now there is some- thing you can do." Today, the center offers a complete health care home to 6,000 Houstonians currently living with HIV/ AIDS. Those services include primary care, oncology, endocrinology, pain management, dermatology, rheu- matology, women's health, adolescent health, ENT, neurology, treatment and management of hepatitis C, pharmaceutical services, physical therapy, psychiatry and counseling services. "We have 20 clinics within Thomas Street that T H E PA R K LA N E L uxury Apartments www.Theparklane.com Corporate Units Avaliable For 3 Month+ Leases Medical Stays Visiting Academic and Medical Professionals On Site Dog Park Shuttle to all Major Hospitals in the Texas Medical Center Electric Vehicle Charging Stations On-Site Storage Included Assigned Garage Parking No Water or Garbage Bills 24hr. Valet & Concierge Service Pets Accepted Minutes from Texas Medical Center Sophisticated Surveillance System Discount to Texas Medical Center Employees NEW! 1701 Hermann Dr. I 713.526.VIEW Both furnished and unfurnished corporate units available!