Meeting the challenge of HIV clinical training within 2.5 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean

In the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, an area that encompasses 2.5 million square miles of ocean, the incidence of HIV is unknown. The area is susceptible to increased HIV activity because of high birth rates, high STD rates, a sexually active younger population, and a mobile population. The Hawai'i AIDS Education and Training Center (HAETC) has provided training in clinical care to the providers in the area since 2000. HAETC is part of the Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center that is part of a nationwide effort to educate and train professionals in HIV care. An adaptive multi-faceted curriculum appeared to be the best approach for training. HAETC has used conferences, mini-residencies, clinical consultations, and satellite conferencing.