UHealth Opens New HIV Clinic in Palmetto Bay
The clinic’s design and implementation reflect UHealth’s dedication to bringing high‑quality specialty care directly into the community.
UHealth—the University of Miami Health System has opened a new HIV specialty clinic in Palmetto Bay, bringing decades of clinical excellence, research leadership and patient‑centered care closer to people who live south of Miami.
“We’re here, right in your neighborhood, and we’re experts in the field,” said Dushyantha Jayaweera, M.D., the clinic’s attending physician and a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
For patients living in Miami‑Dade’s southern neighborhoods, the new clinic dramatically shortens travel time. The clinic’s design and implementation reflect UHealth’s dedication to its mission to bring high‑quality specialty care directly into the community, removing barriers and encouraging patients to stay engaged in their treatment plans.
Comprehensive, Coordinated HIV Care
The clinic extends the full spectrum of services offered by UHealth’s longstanding HIV care program, which for decades has provided compassionate, continuous care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Patients at the Palmetto Bay location receive:
• Routine HIV management with expert infectious disease specialists
• Treatment of co‑existing conditions
• Preventive screenings and medication support
• Follow‑up coordination to maintain long‑term continuity
• Access to antiretroviral therapy, hepatitis C care, PrEP services and preventive HIV interventions
• Gynecological services
• Pediatrics
• Primary care
Through the Comprehensive AIDS Program (CAP), patients also benefit from case management services, Ryan White eligibility assistance and community‑based support, ensuring that medical treatment is integrated with financial and social resources essential for sustained health.
The Transformation of HIV Care
Few clinicians have witnessed the evolution of HIV medicine as closely as Dr. Jayaweera, who has provided clinical care and conducted HIV research for more than 30 years. The evolution of care and outcomes has been astounding, and Dr. Jayaweera’s work has made a significant contribution.
• 69.3% of Floridians with diagnosed HIV are virally suppressed.
• Among those in care, 88% had a suppressed viral load in 2023.
• Modern HIV therapy typically involves a single pill once daily or long‑acting injections every four to eight weeks, dramatically improving adherence and quality of life.
• With sustained viral suppression, the risk of transmitting HIV sexually becomes effectively zero.
• The expansion of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has further reduced new infections, reducing risk by about 99%, when taken as prescribed.
Miami‑Dade County, long a national epicenter for HIV, has seen year‑over‑year declines in new infections due to expanded testing, broader access to care and more effective therapies. The new Palmetto Bay clinic builds on this momentum by placing high‑quality care directly where patients live.
Research-Driven Care
Dr. Jayaweera has helped shape the modern HIV treatment landscape. His career includes leading NIH‑funded studies, contributing to new antiviral drug development and launching the university’s first HIV/HCV co‑infection clinic.
At the Palmetto Bay clinic, patients who meet eligibility criteria may be able to participate in clinical research trials, connecting them to emerging therapies and expanding treatment options.
With its patient‑friendly design, extensive services and academic foundation, the new UHealth HIV clinic in Palmetto Bay is an important expansion of care for South Florida communities. It reflects UHealth’s commitment not only to delivering exceptional medical care but also to advancing science and empowering patients through accessible, coordinated services.
Tags: Center for AIDS Research, CFAR, Dushyantha Jayaweera, HIV, HIV PrEP