The Christian Medical College in Vellore, India developed a distance learning Fellowship in HIV Medicine program in collaboration with the Open University Centre for Education in Medicine to address the growing HIV epidemic and lack of trained healthcare workers in India. The 3-year program utilized distance learning materials and in-person training courses to provide doctors with the knowledge and skills to independently treat HIV patients and develop HIV care services in their own hospitals. Over 200 doctors graduated from the program between 2002-2009, establishing basic HIV testing, counseling, and treatment services at their hospitals across India to improve access to care. The success of this model demonstrated that distance learning can effectively help address emerging public health issues.