Hep Free NYC Meeting Highlights | 09-14-2022

Hep Free NYC Meeting Highlights | 09-14-2022

A Joint Hep B Coalition & Hep C Task Force Meeting

September 14th, 2022 (3 – 5 PM)
Attendance: See below

Presentations

Implementing a Primary Care Telemedicine Model of Hepatitis C Care and Treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Inpatient Substance Use Treatment Programs
Farah Riazi, Outreach Program Coordinator, REACH Program, Mount Sinai – farah.riazi@mountsinai.org
Jeffrey J. Weiss, PhD, MS, Director, REACH Program, Mount Sinai – jeffrey.weiss@mountsinai.org

• View presentation here
  • There are high numbers of patients in detox/rehab programs who need to be treated for Hep C
  • Hep C telemedicine is a viable model for care and treatment and offers an opportunity to overcome barriers to access for people who use or inject drugs

Health-Related Quality of Life for Adults Living with Hepatitis B in the United States: A Qualitative Assessment 
Catherine Freeland, MPH, Associate Director of Public Health Research, Hepatitis B Foundation – catherine.freeland@hepb.org

• View presentation here
  • A diagnosis of Hep B can result in depression, anxiety, and self-isolation. Likewise, liver cancer fear can make people anxious and added stigma and discrimination make them feel inferior.
  • Hep B patients need to be actively involved in treatment and management decisions. Individuals should be appropriately informed about their conditions- what monitoring looks like, and what information they want to know.
  • View the article here for more details into the numbers.

Viral Hepatitis Elimination Implementation Update
Tristan McPherson, MD, Viral Hepatitis Program Medical Director, NYC Health Department – tmcpherson@health.nyc.gov

• View presentation here
  • Prioritization strategies based on importance and feasibility to inform timelines and goal setting
  • Find additional funding to support expanded strategy goals: internal and external through grants, but also the collaboration with partners to apply for funding
  • In the coming months, we will work with Hep Free NYC teams to schedule facilitation meetings on how key stakeholders and community members can contribute and commit to driving forward elimination strategies through practical, concrete next steps.
• Plan to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis as a Major Public Health Threat in NYC by 2030

Policy and Advocacy
Meg Chappell, Program Manager, Empire Liver Foundation – megchappell@empireliverfoundation.org

• View presentation here
  • In FY 23, NYC City Council funded 37 organizations to connect people at risk of Hep B and/or Hep C to prevention, testing, care, and treatment and to provide clinical and non-clinical education.
  • Advocacy Season Schedule. Mark your calendar!
    • Intro to City Council Funding for Viral Hep Training
      • November 9, 2022 (3 – 5 PM)
    • City Council Application: How to Apply Training
      • December 5, 2022 (3 – 5 PM)
      • January 11, 2023 (3 – 5 PM)
    • FY 2024 Application opens January 2023
    • Office Hours – January – February 2023
      • To assist organizations with completing their VHI application
    • VHI Training – Preparing Testimony & Calling Council Members
      • March TBD
  • Viral Hepatitis Advocacy Leadership Team:
    • Check Hep C Leads: Suzanne Robinson Davis (Sdavis@bsfhc.org); Kenia Liriano (Kenia.Liriano@chasiny.org)
    • Check Hep B Lead: Paul Lee (plee@kcsny.org)
    • Hep C Peer Lead: Jose Martinez (martinez@harmreduction.org)
    • Training Leads: Joy Cambe (joycambe@empireliverfoundation.org): Mike Selick (selick@harmreduction.org)
    • Advocacy Lead: Meg Chappell (megchappell@empireliverfoundation.org)
      • Learn more about the NYC Council Viral Hepatitis Initiative
  • For FY 24 – Raise Awareness! Call, email and meet with City Council members, particularly among the new City Council members and the Health Committee members, about the importance of the Viral Hepatitis Initiative.
    • Learn more about the NYC Council Viral Hepatitis Initiative
    • Join Hep Free NYC Advocacy Listserv
• Have you applied in the past and did not get funded? Are you interested in applying for funding? Email Meg! – megchappell@empireliverfoundation.org

Hep Free NYC Committee Updates

• Coalition against Hepatitis in People of African Origin (CHIPO) – NYC Committee
  Farma Pene, Health Care Access Specialist, NYC Health Department – fpene@health.nyc.gov
  • Upcoming Meeting: October 19 (3 – 5 PM). RSVP.
• Communications Committee
  Ayele Kessouagni, Prog Assistant, NYC Health Department- akessouagni@health.nyc.gov
  • Upcoming Meeting: September 22 (3:30 – 4:30 PM). RSVP.
• South Asian Hepatitis Initiative (SAHI)
  Sarah Ahmed, MPH, Program Manager, NYC Health Department – sahmed10@health.nyc.gov
  • Upcoming meeting: October 5 (12 – 1 PM). RSVP.

Attendance:

1. Alejandra Poma, Program Manager, BMS Family Health Center, apoma@bmsfhc.org
2. Alexandra Ramirez, Hepatitis Navigator Specialist, Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI), alexandra.ramirez@chasiny.org
3. Alexis Brenes, Community Project Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, abrenes@health.nyc.gov
4. Alexis Irving, Perinatal Hep B Program Manager, State of Louisiana Health Department, alexis.irving@la.gov
5. Amegnona (Thierry) Ekon, HIV Prevention Specialist, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, aekon@health.nyc.gov
6. Andria Carter, Perinatal Hepatitis B Field Epidemiologist, Louisiana Department of Health, andria.carter@la.gov
7. Angelica Bocour, Director of Viral Hepatitis Surveillance, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, abocour@health.nyc.gov
8. Aprielle Wills, Perinatal Hepatitis C Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, awills@health.nyc.gov
9. Assita Belemkoabga, Associate Researcher, Mount Sinai Health System, assita.belemkoabga@mssm.edu
10. Aura Blanco-Buitrago, Care Coordinator, Mount Sinai Health System, aura.blanco-buitrago@mssm.edu
11. Ayele Kessouagni, CUNY Intern/Consultant, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, akessouagni@health.nyc.gov
12. Beatrice Zovich, Public Health Program Manager, Hep B Foundation, beatrice.zovich@hepb.org
13. Binghong Xu, RWJBH-Saint Barnabas Medical Center, xubinghong2011@gmail.com
14. Brian Hennessey, Director of PrEP and Hepatitis C Initiatives, Housing Works, b.hennessey@housingworks.org
15. Brooke Wyatt, Program Director, Mount Sinai Project Inspire, brooke.wyatt@mssm.edu
16. Bruce Glazer, Account Executive, AbbVie, bruce.glazer@abbvie.com
17. Bwambale Arafat, Public Health Scientist, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner, bwambalearafat@yahoo.com
18. Carmen L Reyes Fontánez, PCP, Tiger Med Corporation, clreyesmd@gmail.com
19. Carolina Maria Bolanos, Peer Navigator, Vocal-NY, caro@vocal-ny.org
20. Catherine Freeland, Public Health Program Manager, Hep B Foundation, catherine.freeland@hepb.org
21. Catherine Toyooka, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner, catherine.toyooka@acgov.org
22. Christelle Onwu, Lead Advisor, African Communities, New York City Commission on Human Rights, conwu@cchr.nyc.gov
23. Christina Hwang, Surveillance Analyst, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, chwang@health.nyc.gov
24. Daniel Nam, VP of Policy, Global Liver Institute, dnam@globalliver.org
25. Deanna Berlin, CBO Liaison, NYC DOHMH Sexual Health Clinics, dberlin@health.nyc.gov
26. Derett Jepson, District Sales Manager, HCV NY, AbbVie, derett.jepson@abbvie.com
27. Diana Diaz Munoz, Program Manager, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ddiazmunoz@health.nyc.gov
28. Dipan Ray, Director of Practice Experience, Touro College of Pharmacy, dipan.ray@touro.edu
29. Erin Connors, Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ola3@cdc.gov
30. Estefania Frias, Kings Specialty Pharmacy, estefania.f@kingsrx.com
31. Farah Riazi, Patient Navigator, Mount Sinai Health System, farah.riazi@mountsinai.org
32. Farma Pene, Community Projects Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, fpene@health.nyc.gov
33. Gail Brown, Director, COPE, gbrown.cope@gmail.com
34. Ganiat Sarumi Disu, RN, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner, gsarumi@gmail.com
35. Geraldine Phillip, Program Coordinator, South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS), geraldine@sacssny.org
36. Gil Cerpa, Patient Navigator, Praxis Housing Initiatives, gacerpa@praxishousing.org
37. Gina George, Epidemiologist Data Analyst, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ggeorge3@health.nyc.gov
38. Gloria Glenn, Program Assistant, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, gglenn@health.nyc.gov
39. Halimatou Konte, Health Program Director, African Services Committee, halimatouk@africanservices.org
40. Hasham Tariq, Ontario County Department of Public Health, hasham.tariq@ontariocountyny.gov
41. Holly Wang, Patient Navigator, Korean Community Services, ywang@kcsny.org
42. Ibrahima Sankare, Testing Assistant and Outreach, African Services Committee, ibrahimas@africanservices.org
43. Ilan Weisberg, Chief of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai Health System, ilansethweisberg@gmail.com
44. Jackilyn Rivera, Hepatitis Program Assistant, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, jrivera20@health.nyc.gov
45. Jagjit Kaur, United Sikhs, jagjit.kaur@unitedsikhs.org
46. James Park, Physician, Northwell Health – Health System, jpark42@northwell.edu
47. James Washington, Program Ambassador, East Harlem Community Partnership Program, hwashington2150@gmail.com
48. Janelle Hockaday, Hep C Peer Navigator, Positive Health Project, j.hockaday@housingworks.org
49. Jeff Weiss, Program Director, Mount Sinai – Respectful & Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program, jeffrey.weiss@mountsinai.org
50. Jie-Lei Jenny Wong, Health Educator/ Patient Navigator, Seventh Avenue Family Health Center at NYU Langone, jielei.wong@nyulangone.org
51. Jiehui (Joy) Zhu, Patient Navigator, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, jizhu@cbwchc.org
52. Jihae Jeon, Mount Sinai Health System, jihae.jeon@mountsinai.org
53. Joelle Bodeta, Hepatitis Patient Navigator, NYC Health + Hospitals – Elmhurst Hospital Center, bodetaj@nychhc.org
54. Jonathan Rodriguez, Hispanic Federation, jrodriguez@hispanicfederation.org
55. Jose Ginel Rodriguez, MD, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, ginel.rodriguez@sanjuanbautista.edu
56. Joshua Lunior, NYC Health + Hospitals – Kings County Hospital Center, joshua.lunior@gmail.com
57. Joy Cambe, Program Coordinator, Empire Liver Foundation, joycambe@empireliverfoundation.org
58. Julie Lazaroff, Unit Chief, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, jlazarof@health.nyc.gov
59. Justin Chen, Hep B Program Associate, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, jchen@cbwchc.org
60. Kalvin Shinrock, Health Education Specialist, Mount Sinai Health System, kalvin.shinrock@mountsinai.org
61. Kareen Cardona Vicente, MD, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner, kareencardona8@gmail.com
62. Karina Escamilla, Manager at Latino Religious Leadership Program, Latino Commission on AIDS, kescamilla@latinoaids.org
63. Kayla Kelly, Hepatitis CoordinatorHepatitis Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health, kayla.kelly@vdh.virginia.gov
64. Kelly Riordan, HEP C Case Manager, Sun River Health, kriordan@sunriver.org
65. Kiara Lora, Director, HCV Treatment Network, Montefiore Medical Center, kialora@montefiore.org
66. Lauren Meyers, MSL, Syneos Health, lauren.meyers@sh.vbivaccines.com
67. Leo Fulwider, Patient Navigation Specialist, Arizona Department of Health Services, leo.fulwider@azdhs.gov
68. Li Li, Public Health Advisor, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, lli6@health.nyc.gov
69. Liz Tang, Outreach and Navigation Supervisor, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ltang@health.nyc.gov
70. Luis Camacho, Hep C Harm Reduction Specialist, Positive Health Project, l.camacho@housingworks.org
71. Marie Bresnahan, Project INSPIRE Program Director, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, mbresnahan@health.nyc.gov
72. Marta Giammarino, Sales Rep, Kings Specialty Pharmacy, marta.g@kingsrx.com
73. Mary Chiang, Patient Navigator, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, mchiang@cbwchc.org
74. Medesa Garrett, HCV Program Coordinator, Sun River Health, mgarrett@sunriver.org
75. Meg Chappell, Program Manager, Empire Liver Foundation, megchappell@empireliverfoundation.org
76. Megan Plancher, Viral Hepatitis Program Assistant, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, mplancher@health.nyc.gov
77. Minhee Lee, Program Coordinator, Korean Community Services, mlee@kcsny.org
78. Miraf Kassew, Housing Works
79. Mohan Ramaswarmy, Trustee, The Hindu Temple Society of North America, mohans49@yahoo.com
80. Nadine Kela-Murphy, Clinical Practice Facilitation Program Manager, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, nkelamurphy@health.nyc.gov
81. Natalie Taylor, Associate Director Public Health, Dynavax Technologies, ntaylor@dynavax.com
82. Okhyun Ko, Manager, Korean Community Services, oko@kcsny.org
83. Olivia Matalka, Student Intern, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, omatalka@health.nyc.gov
84. Pedro Mateu-Gelabert, Associate Professor at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, CUNY School of Public Health, pedro.mateu-gelabert@sph.cuny.edu
85. Peikwen Cheng, Yiviva, peikwen@yiviva.com
86. Perla Romero, Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center, perla@alliance.nyc
87. Preet Kukreja, Director of Population Health Initiatives, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, pkukreja@ehs.org
88. Rahel Yosief, Project Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ryosief@health.nyc.gov
89. Rebecca Berger, Policy Analyst, NYU Langone Health System, rebecca.berger@nyulangone.org
90. Rehan Mehmood, South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS), Director: Health Services, rehan@sacssny.org
91. Sara Kim, Program Director, Korean Community Services, skim@kcsny.org
92. Sarah Ahmed, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, sahmed10@health.nyc.gov
93. Sarah Usher, HCV COORDINATOR, Sun River Health, susher@sunriver.org
94. Shaili Gandhi, Hepatitis Program Assistant, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, sgandhi1@health.nyc.gov
95. Shanaz Hosein, Program Manager, HITE, Greater New York Hospital Association, hite@gnyha.org
96. Shashi Kapadia, Instructor in Medicine/ Infectious Diseases, NewYork-Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medical Center, shk9078@med.cornell.edu
97. Shellyann Vassell, Nurse Manager, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health – Health System, svassell@northwell.edu
98. Susan Olender, NewYork-Presbyterian – Columbia University Medical Center, so2045@cumc.columbia.edu
99. Tammy Wenz, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner, tammy.wenz@nebraska.gov
100. Tasnim Bhuiyan, The Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group, Inc., tasnim.bhuiyan@icahn.mssm.edu
101. Tristan McPherson, Viral Hepatitis Program Medical Director, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, tmcpherson@health.nyc.gov
102. Umaima Khatun, Program Manager, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ukhatun@health.nyc.gov
103. Versalle Shelton, Clinical Practice Facilitator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, vshelton@health.nyc.gov
104. Violet Armstead, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner, armviolet@gmail.com
105. Y-Uyen Le Nguyen, Hep B Medical Director, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, ynguyen@cbwchc.org
106. Yacaris De Jesus, Patient Navigator, NYC Health + Hospitals – Bellevue Hospital Center, yacaris.dejesus@nychhc.org
107. Yanting (Kelly) Huang, Data Manager, Viral Hepatitis, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, yhuang5@health.nyc.gov
108. Yi-Ling Tan, Program Manager, NYU Langone – NYU Hospitals Center, yi-ling.tan@nyulangone.org
109. Yisha Johnson, Patient Navigator, BMS Family Health Center, yjohnson@bmsfhc.org

Last Updated on July 24, 2023 by HepFree NYC