Auburn Students Find Their Place at Auburn's Unity Wellness Center

Volunteer citizens of East Alabama passed a baseball cap around the living room with no idea of where their donations would get them. It was 1988. For the past few years, patients had started showing up at the East Alabama Medical Center to be diagnosed with HIV. At the time, AIDS had only been recognized by the health community since approximately 1981, and HIV was a confusing subject to those diagnosed with the virus who would eventually develop into AIDS.

On that night in 1988, $150 was collected and a direct services committee was formed that would eventually come to be called Lee County AIDS Outreach. The committee of volunteers continued to meet in homes and living rooms to save up money for an office.

Fast forward to 1997, when Malcolm Webster was found by Marilyn Swyers on Auburn University’s campus during World AIDS Day. He admits he never dreamed he would find his passion in health communication.

Starting off as an undergraduate psychology major Webster aspired to be a sexologist. An internship with Disney changed his course. During his internship he worked with guest relations and decided to change his major to public relations.

Webster found a part-time positions as a graduate school intern with LCAO. During this time LCAO began to branch out to beyond Lee County to four more counties: Macon, Russell, Tallapoosa, and Chambers. As a result its name was changed to East Alabama AIDS Outreach.

The center provides services to individuals and families infected with or affected by HIV. The center advocates for those who are living with AIDS and conduct education efforts in the local communities.

Katie Kirkpatrick didn’t know this is where she would end up either. Kirkpatrick, a recent graduate of Auburn University, started her college career as an interior design major. One elective class in social work changed her course and not once has she looked back.

Through her courses she then discovered her interest was in HIV. When time came for her to complete an internship before graduation, she found the Unity Wellness Center.

"Clients wouldn’t be able to seek HIV specific care without this agency,” Kirkpatrick said.

Through the years, the struggle for funds continued.

By October 2003 the center had to close its doors for a time period. By October 2008, the center decided to follow a national trend and take AIDS out of its name. It is now called the Unity Wellness Center and is part of East Alabama Medical Center.

Today Webster is the center’s health communications specialist and strives to educate the residents of the five county area.

“It’s hard,” he said. “It’s so hard to see an impact because it’s not just about awareness. It’s about behavior change.”

Webster acknowledges that taking AIDS out of the center’s name was a good move. Reaching out has become more comfortable for those on the other end. While some of the southern beliefs have not changed, the center over time has. With funding problems still a pending concern, the Unity Wellness Center is still able to focus on its clients. A backbone of any center like the Unity Wellness Center is its social workers.

The center’s humble beginnings have brought relief to many people who are living with HIV or AIDS, which Kirkpatrick says is why her passion in social work is for those living with the disease.

To read more about the center you can visit the center's website: http://www.aidsoutreacheamc.org


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