| Name | Description | Authors | Presenters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09. Viral Load Suppression by Race/Ethnicity Among People Served by AIDS Institute Funded Supportive Housing Initiatives | AIDS Institute-funded Supportive Housing Initiatives provide permanent, affordable housing options for People Living with HIV (PLWH) who are unhoused or at risk of losing housing. This poster presents evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the AI-funded Supportive Housing Initiatives in aiding Black and Hispanic PLWH, who are disproportionately impacted by the HIV Epidemic and homelessness, to achieve viral suppression post-enrollment into stabilizing housing programs. Research demonstrates that lack of stable housing is a formidable barrier to consistent and effective engagement in care at each point in the HIV care continuum. PWLH who lack stable housing are less likely to achieve sustained viral suppression. | Cindy Ravida; Kathleen Ide; Sherry Piscitella; Jason Pendergast | Cindy Ravida; Kathleen Ide, New York State Department of Health-AIDS Institute |
| 30. Provider Engagement for People Living with HIV who are Virally Unsuppressed despite Continuous Refills of Antiretroviral Medications | Amida Care is a Medicaid Special Needs Health Plan that serves over 8,500 patients in NYC, of which are 76% are PWH. From June 2021 to June 2022, AC identified 236 patients who remain virally unsuppressed despite continuous monthly refills of antiretroviral medications from their respective pharmacies To investigate this, AC’s clinical pharmacy service established a Viral Load Suppression ARV Refill (VLSAR) Initiative that takes an integrated comprehensive approach to address adherence concerns and improvement towards viral suppression. 66 (52%) patients achieved a viral load result of <1000 after pharmacist intervention and provider engagement. 38 (30%) patients experienced a change of ARV regimen after intervention. This initiative took a multidisciplinary approach in outreaching and engaging providers. Through case management, discussions took place among internal and external entities, including referrals generated to Health Homes and Treatment Adherence Programs, coordination with Value Based Providers, and case conferences with Integrated Care Teams. There was an overall improvement towards achieving viral load suppression, although not every provider responded for each patient. Raising provider awareness of the need for additional interventions and close monitoring may have contributed to positive outcome. | Chris Milan, PharmD, AAHIVP; Vera Antonios, MD; Hemant Lanjewar, MHSA | Chris Milan, PharmD, AAHIVP, Amida Care |
| 26. Assessing the Need for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Individuals with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in a Large Tertiary Medical Center | A retrospective cohort study assessing STI diagnoses at Northwell Health North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center outpatient clinics for PrEP prescribing trends and missed opportunities. This study aims to identify underrepresented populations for PrEP access and to highlight healthcare provider roles in equitable risk-based PrEP access. | Danielle Cabral, PharmD, BCACP, AAHIVP and David W. Rosenthal, DO, PhD, AAHIVM | Danielle Cabral, PharmD, BCACP, Northwell Health |
| 19. Bridging Access to Care Through Marketing, Social Media & Digital Outreach | "Bridging Access To Care Through Marketing, Social Media & Digital Outreach" focuses on the three pillars of outreach efforts via social media networking. Those three pillars are: Awareness, Outreach and Conversion. My poster will give a glimpse of the marketing strategies we use at Trillium to attract new clients, as well as build relationships in the community through our social networking, analytics, campaigns, direct communication and more. | Alexandre Burgos, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology | Alexandre Burgos, Social Media Coordinator, Trillium Health |
| 12. Automating ACCESS: Collaborating with community agencies and using automation tools to deliver HIV testing to college students | College students aged 16-24 in the United States experience some of the highest rates of HIV and are vulnerable to contracting and transmitting the virus, with 20% of new cases of HIV in 2020 occurring among young adults aged 13-24 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023). First-generation college students of color experiencing health disparities and those with intersecting marginalized identities, such as LGBTQ+ students, are at disproportionally higher risk for negative health outcomes (CDC, 2020). Prominent barriers to testing and treatment for college students include HIV-related stigma and a lack of knowledge about HIV transmission. Therefore, it is critically important to explore innovative solutions to increasing access to HIV education, testing, and treatment services for college students. The proposed presentation outlines the innovative HIV and STI testing initiative undertaken by Project ACCESS at the University at Albany, SUNY. Project ACCESS is a comprehensive prevention initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to increase access to testing and treatment for HIV and Viral Hepatitis (VH) among minoritized college students. Guided by feedback from students, Project ACCESS developed and launched an innovative automated HIV and STI testing appointment scheduling system. The system employs easy-to-use, cost-effective automation tools such as Calendly to allow students to anonymously schedule discrete on-campus testing appointments with community providers. A replicable flow chart for implementing similar innovations in diverse settings to increase access to HIV and HCV testing and linkage to care will be presented. | Evan E. Ozmat, M.S; Jessica L. Martin, Ph.D; M. Dolores Cimini, Ph.D; | Evan Ozmat, M.S, University at Albany, SUNY |
| 01. Evaluation Findings from the NYSDOH Crystal Methamphetamine Use in Marginalized Communities Virtual Discussion Series, 2023 | Curating a space for education, awareness, and collaboration, led the AIDS Institute (AI) Crystal Meth workgroup to develop the Crystal Meth Use in Marginalized Communities Discussion Series. The objective of this series is to hold space for education and awareness through intentional discussions that reflect the impact crystal meth use has in communities that often experience societal and political marginalization. The New York State Department of Health, Office of Drug User Health held two Crystal Meth Use in Marginalized Communities Discussion sessions on February 16 and March 2, 2023. These sessions were held virtually in which the first aimed to explore how crystal meth became a silent and emerging epidemic in racial and ethnic groups historically marginalized; and the second explored the current climate of crystal meth use in the Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ community. At the end of each session, a brief online survey administered through SurveyMonkey was sent to gather feedback from attendees to inform planning and preparation for future sessions. A total of 233 participants attended the first session and 96 responded to the evaluation survey (response rate: 41.2%). Among these respondents, 20.8% reported they’ve used methamphetamine before. A total of 175 participants attended the second session and 109 responded to the evaluation survey (response rate: 62.3%). Among these respondents, 23.9% reported they’ve used methamphetamine before. | Guy J. Thomas, MPH; Shu Li, PhD; Kalvin Leveille MHA, MHC Candidate; Kirsten Rowe, MS; Shu-Yin J. Leung, MA | Guy Thomas, MPH |
| 03. Doxy-PEP Implementation: the Monroe County Sexual Health Clinic Experience | Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) has been shown to reduce incident syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia by up to two-thirds in cisgender men and transgender women who have a history of an STI, and partners assigned male sex at birth. Here we describe the implementation of this new biomedical prevention strategy in a public sexual health clinic in NYS and will present data for patients entered in the doxy-PEP program from July 2023 – November 2023. | Daniela E. DiMarco, MD, MPH; Kathy Carelock, BNS; Marguerite A. Urban, MD | Daniela DiMarco, MD, MPH, University of Rochester School of Medicine |
| 25. Enhancing Clinical Practice through CEI Trainings: A Multiyear Analysis | Due to frequent and rapid changes in the medical field, clinicians need to constantly update and enhance their knowledge and skills. To assess the effectiveness of the Clinical Education Initiative continuing medical education trainings and to identify areas for improvement, participants are requested to provide feedback through an e-participant feedback form. We analyzed data using descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to assess medical behavior change and the intend to implement the acquired knowledge in their clinical practice as a result of trainings. The results showed a positive impact of the high-quality and up-to-date trainings and resources offered, reflected by the reported clinicians’ intention to modify clinical practice by creating/revising policies, procedures, and treatment options, which ultimately translates into enhanced management and treatment outcomes for the NYS patients. | Monica Barbosu, MD, PhD, Ivelisse Rivera, MD, Hannah R. Murphy, PhD, Beatrice Aladin, MPA, Timothy Dye, PhD | Monica Barbosu, MD, PhD, Resource Center of Excellence CEI |
| 18. Hepatitis B and C Local Health Department Needs Assessment Survey: Identifying Challenges to Case Ascertainment and Investigation | Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) case ascertainment and investigations are conducted by the local health departments (LHDs) in New York State (NYS) to quantify and characterize the population of newly reported cases. These activities are imperative to identifying disparities among those impacted by HBV and HCV. Surveillance data with incomplete race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy status, and risk factor information present challenges for accurately characterizing newly reported cases and identifying disparities. To identify key challenges and training needs LHDs face with respect to case ascertainment and investigations, an HBV and HCV Surveillance LHD Case Investigation Practices and Training Needs Assessment Survey was disseminated to the 57 counties in NYS outside of New York City. An 89.5% survey response rate was achieved, with over 90% of responding LHDs reporting that delayed or non-response from medical providers made timely and complete HBV and HCV case investigations challenging. Other key challenges identified were patient loss to follow up to the medical provider (68.6% HBV, 78.4% HCV) and incomplete contact information for the patient (62.8% HBV, 76.5% HCV). Identified helpful training topics included provider case interview (66.7%) and clinical presentation and biomarkers of HBV (92.2%). Identifying key challenges and training needs of LHDs will inform the development of education and training materials designed to facilitate timely HBV and HCV case ascertainment and investigations. Timely and complete surveillance data allows for accurate identification of health disparities, and allows for data-driven, evidence-informed practices and policies to be implemented. | Guy J. Thomas, MPH; Lindsey M. Hutchison, MS; Daniel Frederick, MPH; Kirsten Rowe, MS; Shu-Yin J. Leung, MA; Colleen Flanigan, RN, MS | Lindsay Hutchison, MS, Evaluation Specialist, New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute |
| 08. ESCALATE: Building Equity with an Anti-Stigma NYC Team | HIV stigma is associated with poorer health outcomes including lower rates of treatment seeking, treatment adherence and viral suppression. Reducing stigma in the populations we serve is an essential step to end the HIV epidemic. The NYC DOHMH’s stigma-reduction team joined the HRSA-sponsored ESCALATE project in 2021, working with the National Minority AIDS Council to develop the following goals: Develop an anti-stigma framework; engage service providers in the ESCALATE project; examine Ryan White data collection practices and participate in an organizational self-assessment. The NYC ESCALATE team adopted the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework, adapted it to HIV and collected resources to support the framework, including articles authored by our team members. This framework has subsequently been adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We are currently working to engage our Ryan White/EHE service providers in the ESCALATE project and, to this end, have presented at service provider and HIV Planning Council meetings. In addition, we have met with HRSA staff to explore ways in which Ryan White data can be collected in a less stigmatizing way. Finally, eleven staff participated in the first facilitated ESCALATE Organizational Self-Assessment (EOSA), the results of which were discussed and documented. The EOSA results and ESCALATE work confirmed that as a large public health organization, work is siloed, and there is a need for more formal policies regarding HIV stigma and further collaboration on stigma work being performed. Our team has recently joined the ESCALATE Learning Collaborative, which we hope will strengthen our anti-stigma work. | Julia Cohen, MSS; Jill Williams; Daniel Jung Hahn; Billy Fields; Kimbirly Mack; Grace Mackson, MPH; Lookman Mojeed, MPH | Julia Cohen, MSS, NYC Department Of Health and Mental Hygiene, Grace Mackson, MPH, NYC Department Of Health and Mental Hygiene |
| 20. Onondaga County Health Department Bureau of Disease Control Sexual Health Assessment | In March of 2023, the Sexual Wellness Center began conducting a sexual health assessment of Onondaga County. This presentation represents the key findings of this project. | Sydney Gale, BA | Sydney Gale, Public Health Fellow, Onondaga County Health Department |
| 13. Data-Driven Efforts to Address Health Disparities: Using the New York Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR) to Fine-Tune Mpox Vaccine Outreach | In May 2022, the sudden introduction of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) among networks of MSM and transgender and gender-diverse people in the United States required a timely response by HIV prevention and treatment providers, including the STAR Program in Central Brooklyn, NY. This poster will graphically demonstrate the outcomes of STAR's two-year initiative intended to address disparities in mpox vaccine uptake and demonstrate the value of cross-referencing patient data with the New York Citywide Immunization Registry to assess follow-up needs. | Simon Korotzer-Mariani, Oberlin College, and Lori Hurley, PhD, MPH, MSW | Lori Hurley, PhD, MPH, MSW |
| 28. Universal Expedited Partner Therapy in a Rural Health Department | Oswego County Health Department (OCHD) is a medium sized rural health department in Upstate New York that contracts the testing and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) out to a non-profit organization, therefore there is not an onsite clinic. Many providers in this county do not offer expedited partner therapy (EPT) due to a variety of reasons. As a result, there are many residents that are being exposed to an STI and are not getting tested, nor do they get offered treatment. To combat this problem and bring awareness to EPT, OCHD is piloting a program in which EPT is offered to all residents that have tested positive for Chlamydia, Trichomoniasis and/or Gonorrhea. OCHD is also willing to pay for the treatment if the exposed individual is unable to. OCHD is the only county health department in NYS without an on-site STD clinic that provides EPT. Public health detailing has been provided to local medical providers and to pharmacies, with the goal of increasing knowledge about EPT and increasing the number of providers that are willing to offer it. OCHD has also provided community outreach to local institutions promoting this program. An EPT hotline was created so that the public can call for more information or to request treatment. In conjunction with this program, OCHD has added a link to the website where residents can request “Safer Sex Kits”. These kits offer a variety of barrier methods that can be used to improve sexual and reproductive health. | Jodi Martin, MSN-PHN, Deputy Public Health Director, Oswego County Health Department | Jodi Martin, MSN-PHN |
| 07. Increasing Hepatitis C Care for People Who Use Drugs in a Harm Reduction Setting | People who use drugs often face barriers receiving Hepatitis C care. REACH Medical is a community-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization that utilizes a harm reduction approach to increase services to people who use drugs. | Jasmine Myrick, MS, EMT-B; Arsalan Ali; Sohrab Zand, MBBCH; Matt Dankanich; Judith Griffin, MD | Jasmine Myrick, MS, EMT-B |
| 14. Rapid-TX: An Essential Tool in Ending the HIV Epidemic | RAPID Tx has been an important tool at our clinic as a means of providing our patients with access to antiretroviral medications to treat HIV. We present data from the past five years on the effects RAPID Tx has brought upon our patients. | Jason Leider, MD, PhD, FACP, AAHIVS; Penelope Demas, PhD; Brian Tong, PharmD, AAHIVP; Bimbla Felix, LMSW; Rufina Clement, BSCH; Geraldine Moncion, MSW | Brian Tong, PharmD, Jacobi Medical Center; Bimbla Felix, LMSW |
| 17. Together We Can: Partnering to Close Sexual Health Practice Gaps among NYS Clinicians Caring for Adolescents | Sexual health needs of adolescents and young adults (AYA) continue to evolve in the current socio-political climate. To meet this demand, the NYS AIDS Institute Clinical Education Initiative Sexual Health Center of Excellence partnered with the University of Rochester Medical Center Division of Adolescent Medicine with a goal of increasing the knowledge/comfort of NYS clinicians caring for AYA with sexual health, gender health and eating disorder needs. They developed content, informed by a needs assessment and delivered in a virtual format with a variety of speakers (including those with lived experience), allowing for clinician capacity-building and dissemination in an accessible way. | Erica A. Bostick, MD; Jessica L. VanScott, MPH; Marguerite Urban, MD; Daniela DiMarco, MD, MPH | Marguerite A. Urban, M.D, University of Rochester School of Medicine |
| 04. When Second-Line is the Only Option: Treating Syphilis during the Benzathine Penicillin Shortage | Syphilis cases in the US and NYS are increasing, with an alarming rise in cases of congenital syphilis resulting from untreated syphilis infections during pregnancy. Benzathine penicillin (BPCN) is the gold standard for treatment of syphilis and the only recommended treatment in pregnancy, and we are currently in a global shortage of this medication. This presentation includes a report on a new syphilis treatment follow-up protocol during the benzathine penicillin shortage. | Daniela E. DiMarco, MD, MPH; Kathy Carelock, BNS; Marguerite A. Urban, MD | Daniela DiMarco, MD, MPH, University of Rochester School of Medicine |
| 27. Community Collaboration to Serve Marginalized Communities in New York City: Tacos and Testing, Get Tested! | Tacos and Testing, Get Tested! is a promising public health initiative focused on Ending the HIV Epidemic (ETE), eliminating barriers to HIV, STI and Hepatic C testing and health screenings, and addressing health disparities among marginalized communities in NYC. | Ofelia Barrios, MA, Senior Director of Community Initiatives, Iris House | Ofelia Barrios, MA |
| 22. Place Matters: Why Are New York State’s Veterans Clustered in the EHE Region? | The 2021, New York State’s BRFSS Brief revealed an estimated 6.1% or 969,000 adults in the state were Veterans and 13.5% of those Veterans were 65 and older. BRFSS, administered annually by the State Department of Health, is a wealth of information on behaviors, risk factors, and preventative health services connected to leading causes of chronic and infectious diseases, disability, injury, and death. Notably absent from this report on Veterans are any highlighted findings on HIV in this marginalized population, especially given the State’s ETE initiative. According to America’s HIV Epidemic Analysis Dashboard (AHEAD), the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens are the designated EHE region of New York State. EHE regions are cities, states, or counties where new HIV infections are most concentrated. What makes this gap in reporting concerning is VA.gov’s Veteran Population Congressional Districts table calculates an estimated 158,839 or 16% of the state’s Veterans were clustered in state’s EHE Region in 2021.Theories drive hypothesis, data tests them. This poster will use the theoretical framework of engagement theory to hypothesize why in 2021, 16% of 6.1% of the population lived in a region with high HIV rates, given their reported co-morbidities. Engagement theory and the accompanying hypotheses should inform data collection on this marginalized population to shed light on their clustered representation in NYS’ EHE region and how to engage them around HIV challenges. | Lessie Branch, Ph.D. Public and Urban Policy | Lessie Branch, PhD, Special Assistant for Community Engagement, New York State Department of Veterans’ Services |
| 23. Expanding Access to Hepatitis C Virus Care among People Who Use Drugs in New York State: HCV Telehealth Toolkit | The Clinical Education Initiative’s Hepatitis C and Drug User Health Center of Excellence (the Center) offers continuing medical education to enhance the capacity of New York State medical providers. In collaboration with a group of New York State experts, The Center developed the Hepatitis C Telehealth Toolkit to support traditional and non-traditional settings interested in providing hepatitis C virus (HCV) care via telehealth. Learning Objectives: (1) Discuss key components of the Hepatitis C Telehealth Toolkit, and (2) Describe the impact of expanding access to HCV care via telehealth on HCV elimination in New York State. | Lauren Walker, MPH; Charlotte Miller, MPH; Linda Wang, MD; Jeffrey Weiss, PhD, MS | Charlotte Miller, MPH, Clinical Education Initiative |
