NYC Hep C Task Force Meeting Highlights | 03-19-2025
March 26, 2025 (2 – 4 PM)
Attendance: See below
Presentations
Closing the Gap from Diagnosis to Treatment: REACH’s Rapid Start Model and Key Partners
Jacob Gray Herrera, MPH, Hep C Program Coordinator II, REACH Program, Mount Sinai Hospital – jacob.herrera@mountsinai.org
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- View presentation here
- Patient workflow
- From May 2021 – April 2024, the REACH program
- Enrolled 164 patients, of which 107 started Hep C treatment
- Compared to year 1, in year 3, 3 times as many patients (66) started Hep C treatment
NYC Health + Hospitals Correctional Health Services Point of Reentry and Transition (PORT) Program
Callie Janoff, MDiv, MFA, PORT Practices Care Models Program Manager, NYC Health + Hospitals – janoffc@nychhc.org
Lucas Dreamer, MD, Kings County PORT Practice Clinical Lead & Physician, Kings County Hospital Primary Care – dreamerl@nychhc.org
- View presentation here
- To refer to PORT Primary Care clinics, call (646) 614 – 1000 to schedule first appointment or email chsportline@nychhc.org
2024 Survey of Hep C Infrastructure and Technical Assistance Needs of NYS Community Health Centers
Colleen Flanigan, RN, MS, Director, Bureau of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology, NYS Health Department – colleen.flanigan@health.ny.gov
- View presentation here
- 42 Health Centers responded to a survey assessing capacity, infrastructure and technical assistance needs associated with Hep C testing and treatment
- 52% of respondents were based in NYC
- Community Health Centers need
- Provider education in Hep C Reflex testing
- Guidance developing policies for opt-out Hep C screening
- Support for opioid treatment programs to provide onsite Hep C treatment
- Upcoming Opportunities
Recap from the NYS Hep C Coalition Legislative Education Day
Ellie Goldfarb, MPH, Program Coordinator, Housing Works – E.Goldfarb@housingworks.org
- View presentation here
- The NYS Hep C Coalition meets every 1st Friday of every month at 11 AM.
- Upcoming Meeting: April 4 @ 11 AM RSVP
Elimination & Advocacy Updates
Advocacy Committee
Meg Chappell, MPH, Program Manager, Empire Liver Foundation – megchappell@empireliverfoundation.org
- View presentation here
- City Council Viral Hepatitis Initiative FY 26 Budget Season
- Foster connections with council members and staff, invite to events and tag them on social media.
Hep Free NYC Awareness Day Planning Committee
Jonathan Rodriguez, Hispanic Federation – jrodriguez@hispanicfederation.org
- Join the 2025 Hepatitis Awareness Month Planning meeting. RSVP
- Speakers for City Hall event is needed! Speakers need to highlight the importance of Hep B and C. Email news@hepfree.nyc
Communications Committee
Alma Chaves, MPH, Projects Coordinator, NYC Health Department – achaves@health.nyc.gov
- Active on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram? DMS us to boost Hep B and C posts!
- Collaborate in creating graphics for hepatitis – related awareness days such as World Hepatitis Day, World Hepatitis Testing Week etc. Email news@hepfree.nyc for more information.
- Upcoming Meeting: April 9 @ 2 – 3 PM RSVP
Attendance:
- Abigail Hunter, Clinical Program Manager, Vocal-NY, abigail@vocal-ny.org
- Adeeba Khan, Program Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, akhan8@health.nyc.gov
- Ajya Sah, Public Health Advisor II, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, asah@health.nyc.gov
- Alejandra Poma, Program Manager, BMS Family Health and Wellness Centers, apoma@bmsfhc.org
- Alex Ortiz, HCV Case Manager, Sun River Health, alortiz@sunriver.org
- Alexis Brenes, Community Project Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, abrenes@health.nyc.gov
- Alexis Fields, Program Manager, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, afields@bhmcny.org
- Alma Chaves, Program Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, achaves@health.nyc.gov
- Ana Ventuneac, VP Research and Evaluation, START Treatment and Recovery Centers, aventuneac@startny.org
- Ana Abreu, Transportation Coordinator, Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc, aabreu@eoc-suffolk.com
- Ana Vivar, Nurse, North Jersey Community Research Initiative, a.vivar@njcri.org
- Anthony Feliciano, Vice President Advocacy and Community Mobilization, Housing Works, a.feliciano@housingworks.org
- Anthony DeAngelo, Business Development Manager, OraSure Technologies Inc., adeangelo@orasure.com
- Brian Edlin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bxe2@cdc.gov
- Callie Janoff, NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services, janoffc@nychhc.org
- Charles Gonzalez, Associate Medical Director, NYS Department of Health – The AIDS Institute, cjg17@health.state.ny.us
- Charlotte Miller, Program Manager, Mount Sinai Health System, charlotte.miller@mountsinai.org
- Christina Richard, Public Health Medical Assistant/ Surveillance Specialist, Orange County Health Services, crichard@co.orange.tx.us
- Colleen Flanigan, Director, Bureau of Hepatitis Healthcare, NYS Department of Health – The AIDS Institute, colleen.flanigan@health.ny.gov
- Corrinne Green, Hepatitis Data and Evaluation Manager, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, cgreen8@health.nyc.gov
- Courtney Simmons, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, courtney.simmons@ppgreaterny.org
- Crystal Olague, Patient Navigator, Mount Sinai – Respectful & Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program, crystal.olague@mountsinai.org
- Cynthia Ortigoza, Hepatitis/HIV Surveillance Analyst, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, cortigoza@health.nyc.gov
- Daniel Soto, Community Health Worker/Clinical Research Coordinator, Mount Sinai Hospital, daniel.soto2@mountsinai.org
- Daniel Raymond, New York Harm Reduction Coalition, raymond@harmreduction.org
- Dantea Hudson, Case Manager, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, dantea.hudson@ppgreaterny.org
- Daryin Hummel, LEAP Care Coordinator, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, daryin.hummel@mssm.edu
- Derett Jepson, HCV District Sales Manager – NY, AbbVie, derett.jepson@abbvie.com
- Destini McMillan-Foster, Program Assistant, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, dmcmillanfoster@health.nyc.gov
- Diana Diaz Munoz, Director, Capacity Building – Viral Hepatitis Prog, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ddiazmunoz@health.nyc.gov
- Dolores Gonzalez, Health Promoter, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, dolores.gonzalez@ppgreaterny.org
- Edwin Rodriguez, Engagement Specialist, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, edwin.rodriguez@ppgreaterny.org
- Ellie Goldfarb, Project Coordinator, Housing Works, e.goldfarb@housingworks.org
- Emily He, Viral Hepatitis CUNY Intern, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ehe@health.nyc.gov
- Emma Kaplan-Lewis, Physician, New York City Health & Hospitals Corp, emma.kaplanlewis@nychhc.org
- Erica Finfer, Project Manager – Perinatal HCV, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, efinfer@health.nyc.gov
- Erin Swepston, Clinical Advisor/Viral Hepatitis Director, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, eswepston@health.nyc.gov
- Farah Riazi, Health Care Practice Facilitation Project Director, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, friazi@health.nyc.gov
- George Cannon, Sales Representative/HVC Specialist, AbbVie, george.cannon@abbvie.com
- Hawa Jalloh, President & CEO, Spring Hill Wellness New York (SHWNY), hawa@shwny.com
- Heather Richmond, Dynavax Technologies, hrichmond@dynavax.com
- Helen Price-Wharff, Hepatitis C Navigator, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, helen.price-wharff@maine.gov
- Holly Anger, Senior Surveillance and Research Scientist, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, hanger@health.nyc.gov
- Hunter Duke, Housing Works, h.duke@housingworks.org
- Ibrahima Sankare, Testing and Outreach Assistant, African Services Committee, ibsankare@yahoo.fr
- Irina Fuseau, Outreach Community Worker, Mount Sinai – Respectful & Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program, irina.fuseau@mountsinai.org
- Jackilyn Rivera, Community Project Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, jrivera20@health.nyc.gov
- Jacob Herrera, HCV Program Coordinator, Mount Sinai Health System, jacob.herrera@mountsinai.org
- Jacqueline LaPene, Health Educator, NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services, jlapene@nychhc.org
- Jane Fletcher, Health Program Specialist, Arkansas Department of Health, jane.r.fletcher@arkansas.gov
- Janette Acevedo-Matias, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner
- Jeff Weiss, Program Director, Mount Sinai – Respectful & Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program, jeffrey.weiss@mountsinai.org
- Jeff Hotaling, HCV Testing Coordinator, NYS Department of Health – The AIDS Institute, jeff.hotaling@health.ny.gov
- Jennifer Coleman, Urban Recovery, jcoleman@urbanrecovery.com
- Jillian Koterba, FNP-BC, Genesee County Health Department, jkoterba@geneseecountymi.gov
- Joe Chiusano, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner
- Joe Famighette, AbbVie , joe.famighette@abbvie.com
- Joelle Bodeta, Hepatitis Patient Navigator, NYC Health + Hospitals – Elmhurst Hospital Center, bodetaj@nychhc.org
- Joelle Dountio Ofimboudem, Project Director, Treatment Action Group, jdountio@treatmentactiongroup.org
- Jonathan Rodriguez, Health Programs Manager, Hispanic Federation, jrodriguez@hispanicfederation.org
- Joy Cambe, Program Coordinator, Empire Liver Foundation, joycambe@empireliverfoundation.org
- Jules Levin, Executive Director, National Association on Drug Abuse Problems (New York State), Inc., jules@natap.org
- Julia Cohen, Viral Hepatitis Informatics Manager, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, jcohen8@health.nyc.gov
- Kara Burke, Program Manager, NYS Department of Health – The AIDS Institute, kara.burke@health.ny.gov
- Kelsey Anderson, Hepatitis Field Investigator, Louisiana Department of Health, kelsey.anderson@la.gov
- Kevin Madera, Public Health Adviser II, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, kmadera@health.nyc.gov
- Lauren Bach, Epidemiology Research Associate, Pennsylvania Department of Health, lbach@pa.gov
- Lauren Estby, Vice President of Prevention Services, Housing Works, lestby@housingworks.org
- Leandra Ureña, Hep C Community Navigation Program Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, lurea@health.nyc.gov
- Liz Tang, Project Director of Telenavigation, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ltang@health.nyc.gov
- Lizabeth Smith, PHEP, Orange County Health Services, lizsmith@co.orange.tx.us
- Lucas Dreamer, NYC Health + Hospitals – Kings County Hospital Center, dreamerl@nychhc.org
- Luke Grandis, Health Program Coordinator I, New York State Health Department, luke.grandis@health.ny.gov
- Marguerite LeLaurin, HIV PrEP Program Manager/ HCV Program Manager, New York City Health & Hospitals Corp, lelaurim@nychhc.org
- Maria West, Associate Director New York City Health & Hospitals Corp, maria.west@nychhc.org
- Mariana Martinez, Hep C Patient Coordinator, After Hours Project, mmartinez@afterhoursproject.org
- Marie Bresnahan, Director Training, Policy and Administration, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, mbresnahan@health.nyc.gov
- Marie Andre, Public Health Advisor, NYC Health + Hospitals – Kings County Hospital Center, andre.marie@nychhc.org
- Martha Giardina, RN, Mount Sinai – Respectful & Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program, martha.giardina@mountsinai.org
- Meaghan Grignon, New York State Health Department, meaghan.grignon@health.ny.gov
- Medesa Garrett, HCV Program Coordinator, Sun River Health, mgarrett@sunriver.org
- Michael Beyma, Specialty Representative, AbbVie, michael.beyma@abbvie.com
- Naijely Garcia, Hep C Peer Navigator, Housing Works, n.garcia@housingworks.org
- Natalia Gonzalez-Varela, HIV Program Manager, NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services, gonzalen27@nychhc.org
- Nicolette Fitzgibbon, Patient Navigator, Montefiore Medical Center, nfitzgibbo@montefiore.org
- Omar Zapata, HIV Prevention Program’s Manager, Voces Latinas, ozapata@voceslatinas.org
- Paul Buensuceso, MD, Medical Scientist, Gilead Science, paul.buensucesomd@gilead.com
- Perla Romero, Assistant Director of Outreach, Education, & Linkage to Care, The Alliance for Positive Change, perla@alliance.nyc
- Rahel Yosief, Program Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ryosief@health.nyc.gov
- Raphael Simonson, Viral Hepatitis Community Partner, simonsor1@nychhc.org
- Raquel Cruz, Hep C Patient Navigator, BMS Family Health and Wellness Centers, rcruz@bmsfhc.org
- Reed Vreeland, Viral Hep Elimination Coord/Policy Analyst, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, rvreeland@health.nyc.gov
- Reginald Idlett, Health Education Associate, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, reginald.idlett@mountsinai.org
- Richard Figueroa, CHS – Community Associate, NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services, rfiguero@nychh.org
- Ricky Zhu, Data Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, rzhu1@health.nyc.gov
- Robert Cuozzo, Gilead Science, robert.cuozzo@gilead.com
- Ronni Marks, Founding Director, The Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group, Inc., ronnimarks24@gmail.com
- Roxann Stubbs, NP, AbbVie, roxann.stubbs@abbvie.com
- Ruben Centeno, Epidemiologist, Florida Department of Health, ruben.centeno@flhealth.gov
- Sarah Ahmed, Project Director, Social Marketing, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, sahmed10@health.nyc.gov
- Sarah Weihl, Health Care Access Specialist, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, sweihl@health.nyc.gov
- Sarah Usher, HCV Coordinator, Sun River Health, susher@sunriver.org
- Sarah Kilbride, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, kilbrides@michigan.gov
- Stephanie Pough, Program Manager, NYS DOH- Office of Medical Director, stephanie.pough2@health.ny.gov
- Susan Spratt, Wachsler Linkage-Adherence Specialist, OnPoint NYC, sspratt@nyhre.org
- Umaima Khatun, Program Manager, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ukhatun@health.nyc.gov
- Versalle Shelton, Clinical Practice Facilitator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, vshelton@health.nyc.gov
- Vivian Singletary, Hep C Peer Navigator, Housing Works, v.singletary@housingworks.org
- Xenia Grace Marzan, Bridging Access to Care, xmarzan@bac-ny.org
- Yaoqi Lin, Senior Research Analyst, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ylin9@health.nyc.gov
- Yomaris Sanabria, HIV Prevention Specialist Director, La Casa De Salud, Inc., yosanabria@lacasadesalud.org
Last Updated on April 14, 2025 by HepFree NYC
