EPIC News

St. Petersburg – Empath Partners in Care (EPIC), a member of Empath Health, is proud to join as a team and beneficiary of the 20th annual SMART (Southern Most HIV/AIDS) Ride taking place Nov. 17-18 from Miami to Key West. This 165-mile bicycle ride is the second...

EPIC Generations is a program designed to help LGBTQ+ seniors have community and support. WTSP shared about this program.

In this 10 Tampa Bay segment, Empath Partners in Care Executive Director, Joy Winheim, discusses the increasing prevalence of STDs and the importance of testing and treatment.

St. Petersburg – Empath Partners in Care (EPIC), a member of Empath Health, announced today they are proud to join as a team and beneficiary of the 20th annual SMART (Southern Most HIV/AIDS) Ride taking place Nov. 17-18 from Miami to Key West. This 165-mile bicycle...

Balance Tampa Bay and Empath Partners in Care welcomed supporters to Coastal Creative March 18 for “Masquerade: The Sevens,” their seventh annual fundraiser benefiting EPIC’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Read More and See the Photos

WTTA, Tampa Hoy featured EPIC's Senior Housing Case Manager Alejandra Arias talking about HIV's impacts on women, testing and more.

Sabrina Arancibia can’t say whether Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) is the largest source of free condoms in the Tampa Bay area. But if EPIC trails another community health organization, it’s not for lack of effort. Arancibia, an EPIC Prevention and Outreach...

Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) announced Feb. 8 that the organization has received its donation of $150,985.46 from The SMART Ride. EPIC officially became one of SMART Ride’s benefiting agencies ahead of last year’s 19th outing, a two-day, 165-mile trek from Miami to...

St. Petersburg – Empath Partners in Care (EPIC), a member of Empath Health, announced today it received a donation of $150,985 as a beneficiary of the annual SMART (Southern Most HIV/AIDS) Ride. The 165-mile bicycle ride from Miami to Key West was held Nov. 18-19,...

It can be hard to make friends later in life. For members of the LGBTQ community, who may face discrimination from their peers or might be navigating their sexual or gender identity for the first time, it can be especially challenging.. “The biggest issue we heard...

Empath Health colleagues and community members donated gifts for hospice and home health pediatric patients and for the children of our EPIC clients. These gifts are hand-selected for the children and help bring joy amid challenging times for these children and their...

This Wednesday April 27, eat out and feel good about it. Dining Out for Life is an annual event in Tampa Bay that invites diners to visit select restaurants where part of their bill benefits EPIC (Empath Partners in Care.) In Tampa Bay, the list of participating...

In its 17th year, Dining Out For Life is an annual fundraiser supported by local volunteers, corporate sponsors and restaurants. This year’s event is Wednesday, April 27, and hours vary by establishment. All funds raised through each participating city’s Dining Out...

The 17th annual Dining Out for Life Tampa Bay will be held April 27, once again benefiting Empath Partners in Care’s support for those living with HIV/AIDS in the region. “We want to thank everyone in advance for supporting Dining Out for Life,” EPIC Executive...

Empath Partners in Care is seeking community support as the nonprofit cycles into its first year as a beneficiary of The SMART Ride, currently scheduled for its two-day, 165-mile bicycle ride from Miami to Key West in late November. Participants in the annual event,...

St. Petersburg, Fla. – Empath Partners in Care (EPIC), a member of Empath Health, announced today they are proud to join as a team and beneficiary of the 19th annual SMART (Southern Most HIV/AIDS) Ride. This 165-mile bicycle ride is the second largest of its kind in...

EPIC (Empath Partners in Care) Director of Support Services & Program Implementation Vicky Fortugo-Oliver spoke with Gayle Guyardo on Bloom about a recent study pointing out the various ways to support HIV+ people.

To showcase their appreciation for EPIC’s support, The SMART Ride organizers presented Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) with a check for $60,000 during their Jan. 9 check distribution party. The SMART Ride is the nation’s second largest and only AIDS bicycle ride of its...

On Friday, Mayor Jane Castor signed an executive order that will make Tampa the second Florida city to join a network of more than 350 cities "committed to ending their urban HIV epidemics by 2030." Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) will be partnering with the City of...

Imagine a place where anyone could find the answers they need about their sexual health, free of judgment. Fortunately for the St. Petersburg community, the new Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) Sexual Health Center combines inclusive, safe sex education with treatment...

Florida will receive $10.61 million in funding to expand HIV infection prevention and treatment efforts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. EPIC’s Executive Director Joy Winheim is featured in a Tampa Bay Times story about the CDC’s new initiative...

Florida now leads the nation in new HIV cases, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, in the Tampa Bay area, non-profits are taking action to get people tested. In this interview with ABC Action News EPIC’s Executive...

Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) client Michael Tollar has lived with HIV since the 1980s. He has seen HIV and AIDS evolve from a new, perplexing condition to a manageable illness with plenty of treatment options and support. "After almost 40 years, you know the ropes,"...

Florida reported the most new HIV diagnoses of any state in 2019, according to the CDC’s latest HIV Surveillance Report. In this interview EPIC's Executive Director Joy Winheim shares with Bay News 9 some of the resources EPIC has available to help with prevention....

William Harper of AIDS Service Association of Pinellas (ASAP) will be stepping down as executive director as he approaches 20 years with the organization. Harper, who started with ASAP in May 1996, says that it has been a great opportunity for him to work for such an...

Dining Out for Life (DOFL) Tampa Bay will hold its 16th annual fundraiser April 29, returning closer to form in a benefit for Empath Partners in Care’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Read more.

Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) announced March 18 that the nonprofit will open a new sexual health center in early summer, a freestanding facility specializing in sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment. Read the full article.

EPIC Intensive Case Manager, Tammy Ayala, talked about women and HIV on Bloom Television.

EPIC's Executive Director Joy Winheim was recently on Bloom TV to talk about the I Run for Safe Sex Virtual 5K/10K AIDS Run Benefitting EPIC.

Dining Out For Life is an international event encompassing 60 cities’ restaurants that donate a portion of their proceeds in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS. For more than a decade Tampa Bay area restaurants have joined together in support of EPIC (Empath...

Keayea Lee, Prevention Outreach Coordinator talks with WFLA Gayle Guyardo about Empath Partner in Care's free at-home HIV testing.

Imagine being able to test yourself for HIV in the comfort of your own home. Empath Partners in Care (EPIC), a member of Empath Health, is making this possible through a free, at-home testing program for anyone living in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. These...

Within our community, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be areas of concern for public health. According to the Florida Department of Health, the state continues to report some of the highest rates of new infections in the country, with...

On June 12, EPIC joined organizations throughout Central Florida and Tampa Bay to honor the 49 victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. The virtual memorial included a reading and ringing of bells to honor the beautiful lives that were cut short due to a senseless,...

EPIC will host a drive-in screening of “Mamma Mia!” May 23 at its St. Petersburg campus to raise funds for essential services. The movie will be broadcast on two mobile movie screens, with each car’s radio receiving the audio. EPIC will have individually-wrapped...

Keayea Lee, EPIC’s Prevention & Outreach Coordinator, joined Bloom TV to discuss the importance of practicing safe sex as we celebrate National Condom Month.

Congratulations to our May Impact Award winner, Galo Cruz, a medical case manager for EPIC (Empath Partners in Care). Cruz has been working with the Hispanic community for many years and dedicated his Master’s thesis to Latinos and HIV. He joined as a medical case...

Tampa Bay residents are invited to enjoy a night out at their favorite restaurants on Thursday while raising money for a worthy cause. For the 13th year, Tampa Bay restaurants have joined together to support the fight against HIV by participating in Dining Out For...

Gulfport restaurants are once again participating in high numbers for the 14th-annual Dining Out for Life fundraiser that will be held locally on Thursday, April 11. From 25 to 100 percent of the proceeds from participating restaurants will benefit a local HIV/AIDS...

HIV/AIDS still continue to threaten our health and world. In 2017, 39 million people were infected with HIV/AIDS globally, according to UNAIDS. The HIV virus is mainly spread through unprotected sex or sharing intravenous drug needles. It can turn fatal if left...

The late Bob Holm shared his gifts of compassion and support for individuals and families impacted by HIV through his longtime volunteer service with EPIC (Empath Partners in Care), a member of Empath Health. In recognition and celebration of Random Acts of Kindness...

This morning EPIC Executive Director Joy Winheim spoke about the rise in HIV infections in Tampa Bay, how you can protect yourself and the importance of getting tested. Listen to the radio segment.

Everyone can live better with support and care from the community, especially when aging. EPIC (Empath Partners in Care) Generations is a new program created to educate the community and respond to the unique challenges and needs of older LGBTQ residents in Pinellas...

Local artist Ryan Young created a series of handmade dresses using condoms to raise awareness about our HIV services and the stigma associated with HIV. He conceptualized each dress after discussing the fight against HIV and AIDS with those personally impacted. We're...

EPIC Generations was formed to educate the community and to respond to the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ elders. Thank you Watermark for helping us spread the word about this new program. Read the full story.

One population hit hard by HIV is African Americans. The CDC showed that while black people make up 12 percent of the population, they make up 44 percent of new HIV diagnoses. One in six African Americans do not know they have HIV. Out of all HIV diagnoses in the...

Balance Tampa Bay is an LGBTA volunteer organization that focuses on promoting fellowship, fun and philanthropy throughout the LGBTQ community. The organization’s annual masquerade ball has benefited EPIC since the event’s inception, with 2017’s gathering raising...

It’s normal to get regular check-ups for our health. But, why not necessarily HIV testing? We know that HIV is still out there. It can happen to males and females, young and old, including those who are having sex or sharing intravenous drug needles. Infections are...

Director of Medical and Educational Services Bridget Narvaez was on Newsradio 970 WFLA this morning to talk about our upcoming events and testing locations for National HIV Testing Day.

The City of Gulfport supports Dining Out For Life in its 15th year. Read the full Gulfport Gabber story.