HIV Clinical Training Tracks in Primary Care Residency Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is inviting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 HIV Clinical Training Tracks in Primary Care Residency (HTR) Programs. This grant aims to fund a single organization to develop a curriculum and implement an HIV training track for primary care residents. The core mission alignment is to integrate comprehensive HIV care and treatment training within existing primary care residency programs, thereby increasing the capacity of healthcare providers to serve populations at risk for or living with HIV. This initiative directly supports HRSA's broader strategic goal of improving public health by enhancing the primary care workforce's ability to address critical health needs, particularly in underserved communities. The target beneficiaries of this program are primary care residents interested in specializing in HIV care and treatment, as well as people at risk for or who have HIV. The impact goals are to increase the number of primary care providers equipped to offer high-quality HIV care, reduce health disparities, and improve health outcomes for individuals affected by HIV. The program emphasizes placing residency programs in communities identified within the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) jurisdictions. This strategic focus ensures that resources are directed towards areas with the greatest need, maximizing the potential for significant public health impact. Residents who are likely to remain in practice in these most impacted communities are also prioritized, fostering long-term, sustainable improvements in local healthcare access and quality. The program's priorities and focuses include the development of a robust, comprehensive HIV training curriculum and the successful integration of this track into existing primary care residency programs. A key focus is on partnerships between the funded organization and primary care residency training programs to effectively launch these new tracks. The emphasis on EHE jurisdictions and retention of trained residents in these areas reflects a strategic approach to address the HIV epidemic where it is most prevalent and to build a sustainable workforce that can meet ongoing community needs. This aligns with a theory of change that posits that by strengthening the primary care workforce with specialized HIV training, access to care will improve, leading to better prevention and treatment outcomes. Expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful development and implementation of an HIV clinical training track, an increase in the number of primary care residents completing this specialized training, and a higher proportion of these residents choosing to practice in communities most impacted by HIV. While specific quantitative targets for these outcomes are not explicitly stated, the funding range of up to $450,000 per award, with an expected total available funding of $450,000, suggests a significant investment in achieving these goals within a 12-month project period. The success of the program will be measured by its ability to foster a more competent and geographically responsive primary care workforce, directly contributing to efforts to end the HIV epidemic.