• Timothy Flanigan, MD, recognized for his dedication to underserved HIV populations

Timothy Flanigan, MD, renowned for his dedication to improving the care of underserved HIV patient populations, received international recognition by his peers as the first recipient of the HIV Medicine Association’s (HIVMA) Advocacy Award. Flanigan, co-director of the Immunology Center at The Miriam Hospital and professor of medicine at Brown Medical School, was presented the award at HIVMA’s annual meeting in October.

Since 1992, Flanigan has provided hands-on HIV care in the Rhode Island prison system—one of the few correctional systems in the nation to require HIV testing upon incarceration. In an effort to slow down the cycle of incarceration, release and reincarceration—Flanigan’s program provides continuous health care to inmates after they are released, as well as linkages to resources for financial aid, social support and housing. Originally targeted to women, the program expanded to include women, men and teenagers and has resulted in reduced recidivism rates.

Flanigan has also been instrumental in creating a health care network for area residents and prison inmates who suffer from substance abuse. He has developed innovative programs that integrate substance abuse treatment with HIV therapy—a holistic approach to care that has improved adherence among HIV-infected substance abusers.

Flanigan is principal investigator of The Miriam Hospital/Brown AIDS Clinical Trials Unit to develop more effective therapies for the treatment of HIV and is associate director of The Miriam Hospital/Brown Fogarty Program which trains and mentors overseas investigators in HIV/AIDS. In addition, he co-founded an HIV care clinic at Stanley Street Treatment & Resources (SSTAR) in Fall River, MA.

The Infectious Disease Society of American (IDSA) created HIVMA in fall 2000 to provide an organizational home for medical professionals engaged in HIV medicine. The HIVMA Advocacy Award recognizes a member who has made important contributions to sound HIV/AIDS policy at the local, state, national or international levels in the arena of prevention, research or access to care. The award recipient’s contributions must play an important role in improving the lives of persons living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS, and the impact must go beyond the level of an individual patient or clinic. Flanigan is the first recipient of the award.

Flanigan, a Tiverton resident, received his medical degree from Cornell University and completed his residency training in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.