Kristen Ries, MD, Delivers Inaugural Copeland Lecture
The Charles “Chuck” Copeland Endowed Lectureship was established by the estate of Chuck Copeland in recognition of the loving care he received from Clinic 1A. As an AIDS patient, Chuck was grateful for the community that surrounds Clinic 1A. It is the goal of the Copeland Lectureship to provide educational opportunities for faculty and staff concerning HIV/AIDS care.
We were honored to have Kristen Ries, MD, MACP deliver the inaugural lecture with a presentation entitled "HIV in Utah: A History or Memoir?” The full lecture can be seen online.
As part of her presentation, she presented the following video highlighting the quality care provided at Clinic 1A from a patient's perspective.
Kristen M. Ries, MD, MACP, Professor Emeritus, Division of Infectious Diseases
Kristen Ries received her Doctor of Medicine with honors from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. She completed training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the same institution where she served two years on the faculty in Infectious Diseases. She left Drexel to join the Indian Health Services at Rosebud South Dakota to care for the underserved Lakota Sioux. After two years she moved to Vermillion, South Dakota and served as a member of the National Health Service Corps.
Kristen moved to Utah in 1981 to join FHP an HMO where she was head of adult medicine. However in 1983 she was convinced to join the staff at Holy Cross Hospital where she rapidly developed an expertise in HIV/AIDS. In partnership with the Sisters of the Holy Cross a comprehensive HIV program was developed.
In 1994 Holy Cross Hospital was sold and the Sisters left. About the same time she was recruited to join the Faculty at the University of Utah. About 500 patients and Physician Assistant Maggie Snyder also transferred to the University.
At the University, she led the development of a comprehensive award winning HIV/AIDS medical home. She is now Professor Emerita in Internal Medicine. The clinic is still going strong. She remains active on various committees of the School of Medicine and volunteers in the community.
Charles Bryant Copeland
Charles Bryant Copeland was born November 13, 1959. He was raised in a small farming community in Northern Wisconsin. He had a very hard and tumultuous life. His family and community never accepted him for who he was. Gay people did not fit in society’s mold during the 1960’s and 1970’s. At 16, Chuck spent much time in foster care programs and at 17 was treated for alcoholism. He moved to Minnesota and earned his GED then an associate’s degree. He landed a great job in human resources in California. He was able to extensively travel and spent a year in Ireland. In the early 1980’s he contracted HIV.
Wherever he went he loved to make people laugh. His goal was to make everyone feel comfortable, special and worthwhile. After suffering with HIV and Bipolar disorder he lost his position in human resources due to memory loss attributed to long-term HIV. He moved back to Utah to be with friends he considered family. After a year he finally was offered a job in Utah in human resources. On the Sunday before he was to start he had a pancreatic attack and never made it there.
With his treatments he experienced the positive and negative. As Chuck was coming to terms with the finality of his situation his medical care team from the University of Utah were there to support him. He wanted to live his last days as “normal” as possible and threw a party for his friends and healthcare staff. He died on December 11, 2014.
Chuck had seen so many friends die from AIDS without any support or resources. He felt donating to the Utah Aids Foundation is necessary, as they are at the front lines trying to educate the general public, and offering acceptance, support and testing to those in need. They also help guide people to available resources, such as Ryan White (which Chuck was able to get his meds after insurance ran out) and Clinic 1A.
Chuck wanted to leave this message: “My sincere hope is that the Charles B Copeland Fund will improve patient care by assisting the wonderful staff of Clinic 1A to continue their compassionate treatment of the individual person AND their illness. And for those of you practicing medicine on all levels, please never lose sight of the power of ACCEPTANCE & COMPASSION towards your patients as well as their loved ones or family OR friends.” Because Chuck loved helping people, his family hopes this fund will continue his dream.