|
Gail Beverley is Coordinator of HIV Counseling, Testing and Support Services at Fenway Community Health.
How long have you been working here at Fenway?
I’ve been at Fenway for a bit more than 20 years, first with AIDS Action Committee when that organization started up here and then as Adminstrative Assistant for Dale Orlando who was Executive Director. Me as an Administrative Assistant was pretty funny, since I’m a hunt and peck typist at best. We were all at 20/22 Haviland Street, then and later, spread around the neighborhood for a few years until the health center opened at 7 Haviland Street in the early '90s.
What do you do now?
I’m Coordinator of HIV Counseling, Testing and Support Services.
So what is a typical day like for you?
A typical day is full of people, which is what I like best. We see clients for HIV antibody testing every day by appointment and on a walk-in basis one evening a week. We’re also on call to the medical providers and test patients for them as requested, so it is usually pretty busy around here. Then there’s the phone line - people call with a wide range of questions and concerns about HIV and also looking for services. I’m always surprised at how little information is available, generally speaking, about HIV services in the state.
One of my favorite things that I'm responsible for is the short term group for newly positive people. We’ve been running this group for about 15 years now and it’s always co-lead by people living with HIV. I’m always heartened by the resilience and resourcefulness of the people who come to the group. I also supervise a fine team of HIV counselors and keep up with the administrative work that it seems is neverending.
You've been providing HIV counseling & testing services here in Boston for a long time. Have you noticed a change over time in people's attitudes towards HIV?
Well, yes and no. You hear HIV infection described as a manageable chronic disease AND there is still a lot of discrimination; treatment is better and it’s still a struggle for people because of public attitude. AND there are a lot of healthy people around who have HIV. That’s the biggest change. There’s also a lot less HIV/AID “in the news” and funding for programs is slowly diminishing each year. I’m looking for some of the activism of the ‘80’s, to tell you the truth! Come on folks, we need to get out there again!
What would you say to someone who is nervous about getting an HIV test?
If you’re nervous about testing, it means you’re thinking about it and that’s a start. Think about supports around you and don’t test in isolation. And, what’s true is true - testing isn’t going to “make it happen.” It is going to give you information that will change your life whether you find you have HIV or not. Be as prepared as you can - and only you know what that means to you, though, as always, I have a few suggestions. Almost everything I know I’ve learned from people here over all these years.
For more information about HIV Counseling and Testing Services at Fenway Community Health, click here.
| 
