Published Date: 07/14/2022
Expiration Date: 04/12/2025
This course will review HIV and PrEP uptake among young people, describe models of care that can effectively engage young people around HIV prevention, and discuss potential barriers that exist when attempting to provide PrEP to young people, and ways to address those barriers.
Jeffrey Birnbaum, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and currently serves as the Principal Investigator and Executive Director of the Health & Education Alternatives for Teens (“HEAT”) Program. Through his leadership at HEAT, Dr. Birnbaum continues to bring SUNY Downstate acclaim at the local, state, national and international levels. HEAT is the only program of its kind in Brooklyn to offer comprehensive medical and mental health care, supportive services, and access to clinical research for HIV+ and at-risk youth, aged 13 to 24.At HEAT, he has provided medical care to hundreds of HIV+ youth ages 13-24 years since 1992. Dr. Birnbaum is an adolescent medicine specialist and Board certified pediatrician who has devoted most of his professional career to working with HIV+ youth. He has built the HEAT Program into a system of care that provides age and developmentally appropriate, culturally competent care for heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth who are living with or at very high-risk for HIV/AIDS. Today, HEAT operates a "one-stop" full service clinic, offering a full range of medical, mental health and supportive services that are tailored to meet the special health care needs of young people.
Natalia Louis, MPH is a Public Health professional with over 8 years of experience in the health and social service sector. With a Master’s in Public Health and Bachelors in Health Sciences, Natalia uses her expertise to educate patients about PrEP and encourages them to make informed decisions about sexual health care. As the PrEP Specialist at TBHC PATH Center, Natalia manages a caseload of high-risk PEP and PrEP clients, conducts PrEP screenings and assessments, HIV testing, outreach, education, navigates insurance and financial barriers to PrEP treatment, and serves as a liaison between the Emergency Department and PATH for PEP/PrEP patients. Natalia’s determination to promote PrEP Awareness is evident in her work with community organizations and she co-facilitates the bi-annual Brooklyn is PrEP’d Network meeting, a collaboration with SUNY Downstate HEAT program.
