Innovative Partnership to Advance Hep C Elimination in New York State Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 12 - 1 PM RSVP Description: Hep C continues to be a public health concern in New York State, despite the availability of curative medications. Hep C is a blood-borne virus that affects the liver. Many people don’t know they have Hep C, allowing individuals to continue to transmit the infection. Furthermore, 70% of infected individuals will develop a chronic infection, which is often asymptomatic for many years. If left untreated, this infection can cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. Injection drug use is the highest risk factor for Hep C, and most new infections are occurring among people who inject drugs (PWID). Yet stigma, discrimination and other structural inequities are significant barriers to care for this population. Through its Hep C Elimination Plan, New York State is working to eliminate Hep C as a public health problem by 2030. A key component of this strategy is a partnership with Health Sciences at the University at Albany. Join us to learn more about the NYS Hep C elimination initiative and how this unique 7+ year partnership works to identify the successes and challenges of implementing innovative models for Hep C screening, diagnosis, and care among PWID. Objectives: As a result of participation in this activity, the learner will have increased and enhanced their knowledge and competence on how an innovative partnership with an academic institution can be effective in making progress toward elimination of Hep C. By the end of the activity, learners will be able to: 1. Describe the New York State Hep C Elimination Plan. 2. Summarize the