SPH Researchers to Share Expertise at Upcoming Ending the Epidemic Summit

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 23, 2020) - This year, the New York State Department of Health is holding World AIDS Day and Ending the Epidemic (ETE) Summit events virtually on December 1-3, 2020.

This year’s theme is the Story of Ending the Epidemic: Past, Present, and Future. The events will feature a wide variety of presentations that will showcase the ETE efforts happening across New York. You can register here.

Of note, the School of Public Health’s David Holtgrave (Dean, SUNY Distinguished Professor, and SUNY Empire Innovation Professor) is a panelist for the Ending the Epidemic Research Panel and Tomoko Udo (Associate Professor of Health Policy, Management and Behavior) is a workshop presenter for a session entitled “Innovative Hepatitis C Care and Treatment Models for People who Inject Drugs”. Details on their virtual sessions are below:

Ending the Epidemic Research Panel

December 1 from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

This panel, featuring public health researchers and HIV experts, will present on relevant ETE-focused research bridging ideas from the past, present, and future. These distinguished experts will discuss why social determinants of health among marginalized populations are crucial to Ending the Epidemic for all populations. Panelists will address themes such as HIV and aging; medical mistrust, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; institutional and structural barriers to care, strategies for sustained community engagement, and HIV-related co-morbidities.

Panelists:

David Holtgrave, PhD

Vivian Carter, PhD, MHR

LaRon Nelson, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN

Moderator: James Tesoriero, PhD (CCHRPP faculty, HPMB adjunct faculty)

Innovative Hepatitis C Care and Treatment Models for People who Inject Drugs

December 2 from 12:45-2:15 p.m.

Abstract: The Governor’s Hepatitis C Elimination Task Force has identified implementing effective HCV testing and treatment strategies for Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWID) as a priority in order to achieve HCV elimination goals in NYS. This workshop will provide an overview of the ongoing implementation and evaluation of three models of HCV care and treatment for PWID funded by the NYSDOH AIDS Institute. VOCAL-NY, a harm reduction agency in Brooklyn, has partnered with Mount Sinai Hospital to expand onsite and community based HCV testing and to implement a telemedicine model of HCV care. Hudson River Healthcare, a network of federally qualified health centers, in partnership with WellLife Network’s Coram site, and local methadone programs, has implemented a model bringing HCV education, testing and treatment to non-traditional setting where PWID are already receiving services. NYHRE, a harm reduction agency in East Harlem in partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, is providing onsite HCV treatment through patient chosen models of 1) individual treatment, 2) directly observed therapy and/or 3) group treatment, as well as curbside treatment for HCV during the COVID pandemic. University at Albany School of Public Health will present the evaluation plan for the overall initiative, and discuss initial lessons learned.

We hope you are able to join us for the sessions above!