Medical Advocacy and Outreach (MAO), formerly Medical AIDS Outreach and Montgomery AIDS Outreach, provides much needed health and wellness services benefiting people living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other life-threatening illnesses. The geography benefiting from MAO services continues to grow. Multiple full-service clinic locations and a network of partner sites across Central and Southern Alabama make it possible for MAOs clients to receive compassionate medical and behavioral care, social service supports, and education even in the most rural areas of South Alabama.
Services are geared to individuals infected and/or affected by potentially life-threatening illnesses, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, among others, and educating those of all ages who are at risk. Available services include, but are not limited to: direct care by compassionate, skilled physical and mental health providers in a clinical setting or via Alabama e-Health*; HIV education and testing; community wellness and prevention education; food pantry services; and other support services for clients.
Para nuestros clientes que hablan espaol, se puede seleccionar un traductor de idiomas del sitio cambiando la seleccin de idioma a espaol desde el men desplegable en la parte superior derecha. Tambin puede comunicarse con nuestro intrprete de ingls a espaol llamando al (334) 386-2522, extensin 3003.
Montgomery AIDS Outreach, Inc., D.B.A. Medical Advocacy & Outreach (MAO), is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit health service, community and provider education organization. Please join us in thanking the following community volunteers who give so generously of their time to serve as the organizations Board of Directors.
MAO supports the overall health and wellbeing of individuals needing our services, including those living with HIV and substance use disorders, by delivering comprehensive healthcare through medical treatment, behavioral health services, social services, and health and civic education.
MAO was founded by concerned and inspiring Montgomery, Alabama residents in 1987. By late summer that year, the original all volunteer staff was actively providing much needed HIV/AIDS education to the community and respite/hospice care to those who were diagnosed with AIDS.
As HIV/AIDS research findings began to inform public knowledge, care needs and treatment options, MAO was transformed into the largest healthcare organization of its kind in South Alabama saving lives one person at a time.
Friends who had moved away were coming home sick. Some were receiving no family support because of the fears and random labels in the media. What began as casual gatherings in a friends apartment to discuss growing concerns led to organized meetings in donated spaces, including the Montgomery County Health Department. One member of our small group, George, even added a second telephone line in his home for our use as a help line. We would take shifts taking calls and returning messages captured by a machine when we were at work. We started networking and before long we were conducting educational events at the Montgomery County Health Department twice a month. We would gather information from every credible source available. We just wanted to get the facts out there and be part of the solution. We were not counselors, but we tried to help by educating ourselves; then, educating everyone we could reach. Reports were coming in daily from everywhere. Honestly, there were times when I felt like I was standing in front of a tsunami and there was nowhere to run, but it was worse for those learning they were sick. While covering the help line one evening, I received a call from someone who was considering suicide. I felt so helpless, but tried to be there for the caller, stressing do not do anything without talking first to a professional counselor. Fortunately, our team had the foresight to include details about a suicide hotline in the information at our finger tips. With what was available to us, we tried to educate people and provide emotional support. We orchestrated a buddy program, transportation and meals, several different types of support groups, home health assistance and pastoral care.
In spite of the fear and hushed conversations regarding the devastating disease, the early volunteers etched a path for those who were infected and affected by AIDS. Long-term survivors and supporters may remember when services were delivered out of a private residence and food pantry services from an adjacent garage. The first public walk-in office was opened in September of 1987 in the Easter Seals Building in Montgomery. The demand for services led MAO to hire its first part-time employee, Jacky Stancil, in August of 1989. Mrs. Stancil would become MAOs first Executive Director by January of 1992.
By March of 1992, MAO opened its first health monitoring clinic at the Montgomery County Health Department with a resident from the UAB Internal Medicine Residency Program serving as the first physician, and assisted by a volunteer nurse. MAOs primary offices would move six times before relocating to its current home.
By 1994, MAO hired its first Medical Director, Dr. Lawrence Williams, and its first staff Social Worker, Rhonda Hollon. These individuals would help set the tone for other pioneers to follow, including Dr. Laurie Dill, who joined the MAO team as on-site physician in August of 1996. [Dr. Dill served as Medical Director for more than a decade before transitioning into the role of End the HIV Epidemic Plan Liaison in 2020. Dr. Cordelia Stearns, MD, AAHIVS transitioned into the Medical Officer role on January 1, 2020.]
As a result of successes in the River Region, in June 1995, MAO was asked to begin providing case management and other services in the Dothan area. The Dothan office was first housed within the Houston County Health Department.
Community support allowed MAO to evolve in response to the needs of Alabamas most rural communities. In addition to the generosity of individuals and institutional partners over the past 30 years, MAOs HIV services are approved for funding under the United States Health Resources and Services Administrations Ryan White Program. The first grant award was received in the summer of 1992. At the time, the committed funding allowed MAO to transition from an all-volunteer education and service organization to a full-time, health and wellness agency, employing skilled providers. Increasing federal support of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has enabled MAO to continue receiving funds under Ryan White through the present day.
What began with only five clients at the end of 1987 now stands at more than 2,000 annually spanning 28 Alabama counties. Thanks in part to a longstanding partnership with the University of Alabama, Birmingham, the diverse list of patients now also includes expectant mothers living with HIV. These individuals benefit from specialized medical and behavioral health care administered by way of one of MAOs Copeland Care Clinics, named in honor of a longtime MAO friend, or one of eleven satellite clinics that represent MAOs Alabama e-Health Initiative.
Even with the exponential growth of its clinical services, MAO remains committed to its roots in prevention education. Through representation at health fairs, speaking engagements, school and community presentations, MAO expands awareness of health-related topics, including HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and other life-threatening illnesses. These efforts reach more than 4,500 from all ages and walks of life.
Expanding on the capabilities of the telemedicine technology and the potential of the regions providers, MAO unveiled the MAO Learning Center in 2014. The Center, the first of its kind in a medical facility in Alabama, provides professional development for the medical community, local nonprofits and other community service organizations. To fully realize the Centers potential, MAO partnered with the Southeast AIDS Education & Training Center (SE AETC) to launch Alabama AETC. Alabama AETC is a joint initiative of Medical Advocacy and Outreach and the Southeast AETC at Vanderbilt Universitys Comprehensive Care Clinic, funded by HRSA. Since 2015, the MAO Distance Learning Center has engaged thousands of professional learners. The Center moved into its new home on Fisk Road in June of 2017.
In recognition of the evolving nature of the MAO model, the organization rebranded itself as Medical Advocacy & Outreach (MAO) in January of 2017 as part of its 30th anniversary observances. The organization born out of the hearts of those Montgomery residents, now serves all of South Alabama. In fact, today, MAO is the largest organization of its kind in South Alabama. 2022 will mark 35 years of compassion and care for MAO.
MAOs evolution has mirrored the changes in the HIV/AIDS landscape. In June of 2017, MAO opened the doors on two new service divisions, the Copeland Care Pharmacy and the MAO Dental Clinic. Although based in Montgomery, services are extended remotely to patients and clients in all service localities.
The MAO Wellness Center also opened its doors in 2017 as part of future visioning for additional specialized services. In the Fall of 2018, PrEP treatment services were relocated to the Center. In 2021, STI testing and treatment services were added to the Wellness Center menu of services. Ultimately, the MAO Wellness Center will offer also offer specialized care for women, gender non-conforming persons and the LGBTQ+ community.
With the expansion of clinical services in Selma in 2021 and the previous ribbon cutting of an additional full-service hub site in Atmore in 2018, today, MAO administers services from four hub site service locations (Atmore, Dothan, Montgomery, Selma) and eleven satellite clinics. As a result MAO is responding to the specialized health needs of more than 18, 675 square miles of rural South Alabama.
Medical Advocacy & Outreach (MAO) has been fortunate to generate much attention from the media over the past 30+ years. Should you see an article about MAO, you are invited to share a copy via e-mail with our Manager of Communications and Marketing. Often, MAO is not aware until articles are shared by supporters or by media contacts.