While many have become aware of Dr. Paula Eckardt as one of the architects of Memorial Healthcare System’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chief of Memorial’s Division of Infectious Disease also continues to focus on treating patients with HIV. “Broward County has one of the highest rates of new HIV cases in the nation. These patients need monitoring and ongoing care regardless of the amount of COVID-related activity or restrictions in our community,” said Dr. Eckardt.
That means an increased reliance on telemedicine, an approach that many with HIV had previously resisted because of concerns about privacy. At the height of COVID, when in-person care was interrupted by shutdowns at outpatient clinics, the online consultations Dr. Eckardt had long advocated for became a critical part of treatment protocols.
As medical director of Memorial’s Ryan White Clinic, Dr. Eckardt leads a multidisciplinary team that ensures HIV/AIDS patients have access to medications, mental health, and case management services. The program is a source of pride for the infectious disease expert, recently earning three awards for viral suppression.
