About the Maternal Child and Adolescent/ Adult Center
About
The Maternal Child and Adolescent/Adult Center for Infectious Diseases and Virology (MCA) was founded in 1988 during the height of the pediatric HIV epidemic when one third of babies born to women with HIV were infected with the virus. Since 1996, when the use of antiretrovirals during pregnancy and after birth to the newborn became standard of care, MCA has achieved zero mother-to-child-transmissions of HIV. Our “model of care” has been replicated throughout the United States and internationally.
With almost 30 years of providing specialized family-centered HIV care to communities of color, the disadvantaged, immigrants, and those without health insurance, MCA has been and continues to be a leader of innovation in health care provision to women, infants, children and their families. As the largest program of its kind in Los Angeles County (LAC) and California, MCA has provided state-of-the-art care and access to research to over 5,000 uninsured HIV+ women, men, children, infants, youth and their families.
Mission and Vision
To provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care to women, children and adolescents/adults and their families infected and affected by HIV and other infectious diseases in a culturally sensitive environment and to incorporate research at all levels.
To contribute to the health and well-being of communities affected by HIV and other infectious diseases through innovative and state-of-the-art interdisciplinary clinical care integrated with multi-level research and education addressing the behavioral, social, and biological determinants of health outcomes, resulting in innovative strategies to improve health and prevent transmission of HIV and other important infectious diseases threatening the public’s health.
Andrea A.Z. Kovacs, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology
Division Head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Director of the Maternal Child and Adolescent Center For Infectious Diseases and Virology (MCA)
MCA is Designated as a:
- California Children’s Services (CCS) Infectious Diseases and Immunology Center
- HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
- DHS Perinatal Center
- Public Health Clinic for HIV and STD testing
Major Accomplishments
- Created a state-of-the-art family-centered model of care combining primary care, tertiary care, and research for disenfranchised and traditionally hard-to-reach HIV+ populations
- Established ongoing collaborations with clinical scientists, virologists, immunologists, molecular biologists, and behavioral scientists at USC and nationally
- Engaged and recruited patients into numerous clinical, epidemiological, therapeutic, behavioral, and translational studies
- Established long-term cohorts of patients for more than 25 years in pathogenesis studies
- Achieved a 100% success rate in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission since 1996 among women who received prenatal care at MCA
- Maintained a 90% retention rate in clinical care and research studies
- Secured Federal funding of over $2,000,000 annually since 1991 to perform complex investigator-initiated clinical and laboratory-based studies
- Aided in the development of local and national guidelines for treatment and prophylaxis of HIV in children and testing of pregnant women
- Developed diagnostic tools to identify infected babies and to treat pregnant women to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission
Clinical Program
MCA is the primary Department of Health Services (DHS) family-centered clinic for HIV-infected women, children, youth, and their families in LAC and is its designated DHS Perinatal Center serving HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns. MCA also provides expert infectious disease inpatient consultations and outpatient follow-up for patients admitted to the Los Angeles General Medical Center. Consultation is also provided for other outside referrals.
MCA’s unique comprehensive one-stop model of care enables children to transition into adolescent and adult care with age-specific providers in-house. A continuum of primary care, with specialty care services, is provided, creating a stable “medical home” that encourages retention in care. MCA addresses the medical needs of these patients through education, preventive medicine, and a comprehensive continuum of outpatient HIV care that includes HIV counseling and testing (HCT), medical evaluation and clinical care, psychosocial support services, adherence counseling and other primary services, and referrals for other health services. HIV Primary and subspecialty medical care and strong psychosocial supportive services are combined with research by a multidisciplinary team of providers from the Departments of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Pharmacy and Psychiatry, all with specialized HIV training. Through this collaboration, a full spectrum of HIV care is provided in one setting. Strong ties to community organizations have created outreach links critical to patient retention and adherence to medical care and clinical studies. MCA’s affiliation with the Los Angeles General Medical Center provides inpatient, emergency medical, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services and numerous specialty services to its patients.
Research Program
MCA has conducted a broad range of clinical and translational research projects that include laboratory-based research, clinical trials, epidemiologic studies of small and large cohorts, and bench-to-bedside translational studies, as well as developmental research. These studies have been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), State of California, LAC and pharmaceutical companies. They are supported by the MCA Virology and Immunology Research Laboratory–an NIH, CLIA, and State-certified Core Research Laboratory.
Education Program
MCA’s faculty has developed educational programs for faculty and students and established the Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ID) Fellowship Program. Medical students, residents and fellows from multiple disciplines rotate through the MCA and the Pediatric ID Program. MCA faculty also have served as primary mentors for pre- and post-doctoral USC students, many of whom have done their research in the MCA Laboratory.