Course

Dr. Collura is currently working in the AIDS Institute’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS Epidemiology–Data Analysis Unit. In this position, he developed methods for detecting space-time clusters of HIV diagnoses across NY State which were adopted by the CDC. He does analyses of HIV sequences including molecular clustering. These methods are used to detect instances of recent and rapid transmission that prompt coordinated responses by the AI. He is currently doing statewide molecular clustering in support of a multi-jurisdictional CDC grant focused on HIV transmission among Hispanic males. Prior to his work at the AI, Dr. Collura had an academic research and teaching career that included molecular evolution, phylogenetics and disease research.

Thomas Sullivan, MPH is the Project Coordinator for the molecular-informed Project Más in the AIDS Institute’s Bureau of HIV/STD Field Services. In this capacity he coordinates all activities for Project Másin collaboration with multiple New York State Department of Health Divisions & Bureaus and the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Mr. Sullivan previously served as a Program Research Specialist in the AIDS Institute’s Bureau of HIV/STD Field Services following internships through the SUNY Albany School of Public Health. He conducted special projects for the bureau and coordinated the emergency department expanded HIV testing initiative.

James M. Tesoriero, PhD is the Director of the AIDS Institute’sDivision of HIV/STDEpidemiology, Evaluation and Partner Services. In this capacity he oversees HIV and STD surveillance and field services activities, as well as the Institute’s research and evaluation initiatives. Dr. Tesoriero is the Chair of the New York State Department of Health’sInstitutional Review Board.During his 27years at the AIDS Institute, Dr. Tesoriero has previously served as the Director of the Office of Program Evaluation andResearch and as the Director of the Division of HIV/STD/HCV Prevention. As Prevention Director he oversaw 75 million dollars in statewide initiatives dedicated to HIV testing andlinkage to care, HIV and STD partner services, condom promotionand distribution, behavioral interventions for HIVpositive andhigh risk individuals, LGBT health,drug user healthincluding syringe access and overdose prevention, and various policy initiativesdesigned to remove barriers to effective HIV programming. Dr. Tesoriero’s current research focuses on maximizing New York State’s data to care and molecular epi-informed initiatives, including those within NYS prisons.

Mr. Rosenthal is currently working in the AIDS Institute’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS Epidemiology–Data Analysis Unit. In this position, he participates in the development and implementation of epidemiological reporting and surveillance actives, particularly molecular HIV surveillance. He assists with refining procedures for transmission cluster analysis, developing algorithms to identify persons who appear at high risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV, and with performance measurement and evaluation. Mr. Rosenthal runs the State’s Resistance Analysis Software to track HIV drug resistance trends, and also works on a variety of projects including geo spatial analysis and research on viral suppression outcomes among different populations of people living with HIV. Prior to his work at the AIDS Institute, Mr. Rosenthal held a CDC/CSTE fellowship position at the Georgia Department of Public Health, focused on foodborne disease surveillance.