Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Hoppe and Ryan Bortz
Hi Matthew and Ryan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The Aliveness Project founded in 1985, came together when our founders needed to support their friends and loved ones living with HIV/AIDS who were struggling to meet their basic needs. In the 40 years since our founding, we have grown to offer daily meals, food shelf, case management, mental health services, housing stabilization, harm reduction services, testing, and free pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which is a once-daily medication that greatly reduces the risk of HIV infection. Starting February 2025 we will expand our services to include an in-house pharmacy specializing in HIV treatment, PrEP, STI treatment, and gender care, as well as routine medications to treat chronic illnesses.
With our increased investment in services, Aliveness is now poised to pursue the ambitious goals of the END HIV MN plan (health.state.mn.us/endhivmn). We have the knowledge, tools, and expertise to significantly reduce new HIV infections by 2025, and effectively end the HIV pandemic in Minnesota by 2035. The founders of Aliveness made history in their care for people living with HIV/AIDS, now we are ready to make history once again by ending HIV in Minnesota.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Establishing a clinic and pharmacy from scratch has been extraordinarily exciting and a large undertaking for a small staff of folks navigating this landscape for the first time. We are grateful to have the support of external partners, such as Cardinal Health, who have been crucial in helping us work through the many logistical, regulatory, and financial considerations associated with establishing the pharmacy. We also spent a year, raising funds through capital campaigns to even get started with building a pharmacy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Ryan has over 11 years of pharmacist experience and 18 years of experience working in retail, long-term care, and outpatient clinic pharmacies. Professionally, they are most proud of their Master’s Degree in Social and Administrative Pharmacy and their work with transgender and gender-diverse communities.
Matthew Hoppe (he/him) RN, BSN, PHN, Clinical Services Director has 8+ years in nursing and became a registered nurse in 2014. He has been instrumental in the creation of THRIVE, Aliveness’s new PrEP/STI Clinic. Matthew is a Veteran of the US Military and performed one tour in Iraq. He oversees Mental Health services, Outreach, Prevention, Care linkage and our 340B Program. Matthew received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Globe University and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree as a Certified Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing at Walden University. As a person living with HIV, Matthew has witnessed firsthand the continued advocacy, devotion, and changes Aliveness makes to End HIV in Minnesota
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson we’ve learned is to be a champion of your community, trust and respect our abilities in healthcare,, and to keep pushing forward. It has been a journey of growth and we feel a deeper sense of confidence in our knowledge and skills. Additionally, We embraced the responsibility to advocate for their needs and well-being. We truly believe in the power of consistent effort, and we will continue to push forward, never stopping in our pursuit to make a positive different.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aliveness.org
- Instagram: @alivenessmn
- Facebook: @alivenessmn
- LinkedIn: @alivenessmn
