By Jerome White
One of five clinical externships offered to Yo San’s interns is at Being Alive in West Hollywood, CA. Being Alive is a not for profit peer-to-peer support organization for HIV+ men and women, offering referrals for primary medical care, housing, substance abuse counseling, as well as a variety of complimentary therapies for their members. Whether male or female, newly diagnosed or a long term survivor, all services are offered free of charge.
Along with Massage, Hypnotherapy, Yoga, Reiki and Chiropractic services, Acupuncture is provided weekly by Yo San University Intern Practitioners. Approximately 20 patients are treated during every shift by our Yo San interns.
While every patient seen at Being Alive has HIV, the range of treatments is as complex and varied as we would see in any other clinic. Ailments treated range anywhere from fatigue, depression and anxiety to the side effects HIV medications such as insomnia, nausea, lipodystrophy and neuropathy as well as many other syndromes commonly suffered by those chronically ill.
This past trimester, I had the opportunity and pleasure to serve one of my clinical shifts at Being Alive. While the challenge of treating such a diverse group of men and women with equally diverse symptoms was enormous, the rewards far outweighed that challenge. The constant and genuine words of thanks and gestures of appreciation extended to me, my fellow interns and my supervisor made interning at Being Alive one of the greatest and most profound experiences of my time at Yo San University.