About AIDS

If you're HIV-positive, what do you really need to know? Come find out at ASA's dinner program, 10 Things HIVers Need to Know, on Wednesday evening, March 10. The guest speaker will be Houston's Nelson Vergel, the poz founder of the Body Positive Wellness Clinic.

The evening is the March program in ASA's Dinner with the Doc series, addressing the questions that people with HIV ask most frequently. While Nelson isn't a physician (he's BSChE, MBA), he is one of the most knowledgeable speakers available today on the HIV-related topics of metabolic disorders, wasting, lipodystrophy, nutrition and exercise. In addition to his work with Body Positive, Nelson is the founding director of Houston's Program for Wellness Restoration and the author, with Drs. Michael Mooney and Mauro DiPasquale, of the recent book, Built to Survive: A Comprehensive Guide to the Medical Use of Anabolic Steroids, Nutrition and Exercise for HIV(+) Men and Women. Some doctors may be cautious about steroid use, but no one could quarrel with the obvious results of Nelson's nutrition and exercise regimen, which he credits not only for his impressive physique, but substantially for his continuing good health.

The free dinner and program will begin at 6:30pm at AIDS Services of Austin, 7215 Cameron Rd., just north of St. Johns. Clients of ASA, ALLGO, CARE, and Women Rising will be eligible to participate in a drawing for $20 gift cards. Spanish translation will be provided. The evening is being generously underwritten by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.

So exercise those feet and come to ASA on March 10 and find out what those 10 things are!

Sandy Bartlett

Community Education Coordinator, AIDS Services of Austin

Have questions about HIV or AIDS? Call the ASA Info-Line at 458-AIDS or

e-mail sandy.bartlett@asaustin.org