Orange County Unites in Support of World AIDS Day

Orange County World AIDS Day event

On December 1, 2022, Radiant Health Centers will join millions of people across the world for World AIDS Day. As Orange County’s leading provider of HIV prevention, education and outreach services, the annual event is close to our hearts. Once again, we welcome the chance to offer our support to people living with HIV, and pay tribute to those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

What Is World AIDS Day?

World AIDS Day is held each year on the first day of December. This global event is a chance to spread awareness of the continued fight against HIV/AIDS, show solidarity with the people living with HIV – and commemorate the lives lost to this disease. With a history dating back to 1988, the day encourages people from all parts of the world to unite around a common theme.

The World AIDS Day 2022 Theme Is Equalize

Each World AIDS Day is characterized by a specific theme that drives the events and conversations of the day. The theme chosen for 2022 is “Equalize.” This slogan highlights the inequalities standing in the way of progress in the fight against AIDS. With significant barriers to testing and treatment remaining, there is still much to be done to ensure that communities will have access to vital HIV/AIDS services.

Steps You Can Take on World AIDS Day 2022

You can do many things to support World AIDS Day this year.

How Radiant Health Centers Is Supporting World AIDS Day

One clear goal of the Equalize theme is to increase the availability and quality of HIV treatment, testing and prevention services. At Radiant Health Centers, we remain committed to delivering the best and most accessible HIV services in Orange County. We offer free HIV testing at our Irvine clinic for those who are uninsured or underinsured. Plus, we ensure fast access to antiretroviral treatment after a positive diagnosis.

With education playing such a crucial role in prevention, our medical team also runs regular workshops for people living with HIV in Orange County. Our HIV Life Skills Workshops tackle important topics such as Trauma Informed Care and Medi-Cal/Medicare (in both English and Spanish). By raising awareness about the importance of HIV prevention and the need to know your status, combined with treatment availability, we can all play a part this World AIDS Day and throughout the year.

Contact Us for HIV Testing and Treatment in Orange County

Radiant Health Centers is a trusted LGBTQ+ medical clinic based in Irvine, Orange County. Our medical clinic offers HIV testing, Rapid ART treatment, primary medical care, family planning and other vital services. For general inquiries, call (949) 809-5700.

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How You Can Support LGBTQ+ Health Equity in Orange County

Appeal for medical care donations

As we near the end of 2022, Radiant Health Centers is requesting your support in our Year End appeal. As the best-known LGBTQ+ medical clinic in Orange County, we are committed to delivering world-class healthcare services to the most vulnerable people in the community. All of this is made possible with the help of our many donors and supporters who continue to give generously to enable health equity and stigma-free care.

Why Supporting LGBTQ+ Medical and Mental Health Services Matters

Access to safe, compassionate and reliable medical and mental health services still remains a challenge for many LGBTQ+ people. Patients frequently struggle to get the care they need due to ongoing discrimination, lack of awareness and judgment from healthcare professionals.

With primary care, HIV treatments and mental health counseling being such vital services for the LGBTQ+ community, any inaccessibility will inevitably lead to poor health outcomes.

What Is the Year End Appeal?

Radiant Health Centers’ Year End Appeal plays a crucial role in broadening access to key medical services. With the help of donors we can continue to offer HIV testing and treatment, STD testing, youth programs, hormone replacement therapy and telehealth to Orange County’s LGBTQ+ community. And thanks to the support of an anonymous donor, the first $50,000 raised by December 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

In our continued drive to deliver healthcare equity, we are accelerating the expansion of our medical clinic and mental health services. Every donation will help Orange County patients receive stigma-free care from professionals with an understanding of the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. As always, we remain committed to assisting individuals as they seek to find an LGBTQ-friendly healthcare home in Orange County.

Expanding Our LGBTQ+ Medical Services

The last year has seen significant growth at Radiant Health Centers and the coming year will bring even more expansion. We recently welcomed our new Medical Director, Dr. Duy Nguyen, and his expertise will allow us to offer more comprehensive services to our patients. Specializing in mental health, transgender care, hormone therapy, hepatitis C treatment, PreP and harm reduction therapy, Dr. Nguyen brings vast experience in crucial areas of importance for so many of our clients.

Donating to Radiant Health Centers

With your generosity, we can reach more people with compassionate, high-quality medical and mental health services. And through our continued expansion, we take more steps towards the much-needed goal of healthcare equity for the LGBTQ+ community. Please donate to support Radiant Health Centers today.

Contact Our Irvine-Based LGBTQ+ Medical Center

Thanks to the support of our donors, Radiant Health Centers continues to deliver safe and confidential healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community. Please consider making a donation before the end of 2022. To access HIV testing and treatment, STD testing, primary care and counseling services, call (949) 809-5700 or request an appointment today.

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Radiant Health Centers 2021–2022 Annual Report Has Arrived

Irvine-based medical center report

Radiant Health Centers strives to deliver safe, compassionate and inclusive medical care to the Orange County LGBTQ+ community. Each year, we highlight our continued push to offer dependable healthcare by releasing our annual reports. The latest 2021–2022 report gives a clear insight into our progress as an organization and shares some of the hard work contributed by those who continue to give selflessly to the community.

Welcoming Our New Medical Director

One of the most exciting developments this year was the hiring of our new Medical Director, Dr. Duy Nguyen. As a physician with a passion for LGBTQ+ medical care, Dr. Nguyen will be a valuable asset in our continued treatment efforts for mental health issues, PrEP and hepatitis C services. Dr. Nguyen specializes in hormone replacement therapy, and his expertise will enable us to deliver the very best transgender care.

Launching the Youth and Mentorship Program

The launch of the Youth and Mentorship Program is another of our most important developments. This program assists people ages 13–26 as they move into adulthood – and face many under-appreciated challenges. We have previously discussed the fact that Orange County LGBTQ+ youth face mental health disparities. With this new program, participants can access mental health counseling, sexual health advice, mentorship and other guidance that will benefit their ongoing development.

Serving the LGBTQ+ Community of Orange County

Also highlighted in the report is the sizable impact of the work performed at Radiant Health Centers. In total we served 1,260 patients through the medical clinic, and 2,980 individuals accessed support services. In addition, 6,649 people were reached as part of our education and outreach work. With these numbers rising from the previous year, our Radiant Health Centers team, our supporters, donors and the wider community have risen to the challenge of delivering first-class care to the most vulnerable patients.

Spreading Awareness With LGBTQ+ Events

As always, the Orange County LGBTQ+ community joined together to raise awareness and celebrate the work of people fighting to end the HIV epidemic. Two notable events in the calendar were AIDS Walk Orange County and World AIDS Day Reception.

Supported by Our Generous Sponsors

Of course, the important work carried out at our LGBTQ+ medical clinic, our innovative youth programs – and our many celebratory events – would not be possible without the support of our donors and funders. This year’s list of supporters is extensive, and the annual report shines a light on the organizations and individuals contributing to bettering the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Orange County.

Read the Latest Annual Report From Radiant Health Centers

For a comprehensive look at the statistics and updates from Radiant Health Centers, download the annual report here. We continue to provide LGBTQ+ people in Orange County with the best in primary care, testing services and HIV treatments at our medical center. For general inquiries call (949) 809-5700 or request an appointment now.

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Address Health Disparities During Transgender Awareness Week

Transgender Awareness Week in Orange County

November 13–19 sees the return of the annual Transgender Awareness Week celebrations. As the largest provider of LGBTQ+ primary medical care services in Orange County, Radiant Health Centers is proud to play its part in raising visibility for transgender issues in the community.

As in previous years, the events scheduled for this week present a unique opportunity to educate individuals on the experiences and challenges faced by transgender and gender non-conforming people.

What Is Transgender Awareness Week?

Transgender Awareness Week is a week-long series of events and activities that shine a light on the transgender community. During the celebration, transgender people and allies join together to discuss issues including transitioning, identity, prejudice, discrimination and healthcare access.

Over the years, participants have found many creative and educational outlets to spread awareness of transgender issues. From workshops and gender identity panels to creative expression and movie nights, this week brings various ways for people to engage with the community and its needs.

And with this week fast approaching, we look forward to lively and thought-provoking events that illuminate the incredible progress already made – and the many challenges still faced by the transgender community in Orange County.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Immediately following Transgender Awareness Week is the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. Taking place on November 20, this day commemorates the victims of transphobic violence with a vigil.

As with the Transgender Day of Visibility that celebrates the many contributions of transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming people, this is another important day in the calendar for Orange County’s LGBTQ+ community.

Addressing Healthcare Disparities Faced by Transgender People

We have previously highlighted transgender barriers to physical and mental healthcare, with mistreatment at the hands of medical providers being an unfortunately common issue. Because transgender people routinely face discrimination, this frequently leads to a reluctance to seek appropriate medical care.

A new report from the National LGBTQ Task Force shows that 19% of study participants have been denied care because they were transgender, while 28% have faced harassment in a medical setting.

At Radiant Health Centers, we are committed to providing a safe, compassionate and informed environment for transgender people. We offer vital primary care services such as screenings, diagnosis and treatment of common health problems, disease management and more.

We also provide targeted treatments to address the needs of many transgender individuals. Our hormone replacement therapy services have helped many people with their transition, and our knowledgeable staff ensures a medical environment free from discrimination and prejudice.

Delivering Medical Services for the LGBTQ+ Community in Orange County

Radiant Health Centers offers HIV testing and treatment, STD testing, primary care, telehealth and many other services for the LGBTQ+ community. We pride ourselves on providing safe, welcoming and inclusive care for patients at our Irvine clinic. For general inquiries, please call (949) 809-5700 or request an appointment today.

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LGBTQ+ Community Unites for AIDS Walk Orange County

Attendee of AIDS Walk OC in Mile Square Park

On Saturday, October 22, 2022, Radiant Health Centers joined more than 300 attendees for the 36th annual AIDS Walk Orange County. As an LGBTQ+ medical clinic and HIV testing provider in Irvine, we have seen directly the impact of AIDS on the Orange County community. This year’s event was a much-needed opportunity to get together in support of people living with HIV/AIDS, and reflect on those who lost their lives to the virus.

Team Zero attends AIDS Walk Orange County

AIDS Walk Orange County – A Day of Fun, Entertainment and Reflection

Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley was the location for what was billed as a “fun walk,” with people taking part individually, in teams – and in memory of loved ones. Participants were treated to live entertainment by MenAlive, a Fun Zone with games for children and adults, an AIDS quilt memorial and the Makers Market, with crafts, artists and resource vendors.

Participants in AIDS Walk Orange County 2022

The incredible entertainment enjoyed by all was made possible thanks to support from our AIDS Walk OC sponsors – ADP, Gilead, Biktarvy, Descovy, Avita, Hyundai, Kaiser Permanente, Pacific Life, Room & Board, Shopoff Realty Investments and Moca Foundation.

Raising Money for LGBTQ+ Health and Social Services

As ever, the generosity of the community was on display. Together we raised over $117,000 – funds that will prove vital in providing world-class health and social services for the LGBTQ+ community. As part of our collective goal of ending the HIV epidemic and improving health outcomes, the money raised will help thousands across Orange County.

Radiant Health Centers takes part in the 36th annual AIDS Walk

Introducing the Golden Hearts Award

Another highlight of the day was the introduction of the new Golden Hearts Award. The result of a collaboration between Radiant Health Centers and the AIDS Walk OC Committee, the award acknowledges a community member with a longstanding commitment to the thousands of people and their families impacted by HIV in Orange County.

Deborah Reed and Joseph Lavers win Golden Hearts Award

The inaugural winners of the Golden Hearts Award were Deborah Reed and her son Joseph Lavers. Together they have supported the annual event since 1992, raising over $150,000. The family has lost many loved ones to the virus, including Deborah’s brother, Robert Reed, Jr. Throughout the years, their support has proved invaluable to many people living with HIV/AIDS, and the award recognizes their continued efforts.

Golden Hearts Award winners Joseph and Deborah with CEO Phil Yaeger

Building on the Success of AIDS Walk Orange County

Thanks to the work of so many, AIDS Walk OC will help providers deliver LGBTQ+ primary medical care services, HIV treatment and more. And after this year’s success, we hope to see you next time in support of the values of unity, family, love and equality for all.

Orange County’s Leading Provider of HIV Testing and Treatment

Radiant Health Centers provides safe and confidential HIV treatment and testing at our Irvine medical clinic. For these and many other services, including STD testing, counseling and telehealth, contact us today. For general inquiries, call (949) 809-5700 or request an appointment now.

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