Published Date: 05/08/2023
This course will provide attendees with an understanding of the importance of implementing a harm reduction approach to effectively reduce the risk of overdose, and minimize negative health outcomes associated with substance use, including the transmission of blood-borne viruses (e.g., hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV) as well as bacterial and fungal infections.
Jonathan Giftos, MD is the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Alcohol & Drug Use: Prevention, Care and Treatment at the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.
He most recently served as the Medical Director for Addiction Medicine & Drug User Health at Project Renewal, a large housing and integrated health provider in NYC. In this role, he developed clinical services for people who use drugs in Project Renewal's crisis, shelter, supportive housing and affordable housing spaces. He also worked to expand harm reduction services, while supervising care for people who use drugs in non-licensed spaces (ie, mobile medical vans), supporting primary care doctors in their article 28 clinics, and serving as medical director for Project Renewal's OASAS licensed programs, which include medically supervised withdrawal, outpatient and residential treatment. He continues to provide voluntary clinical care at Project Renewal's 3rd street medical clinic.
Prior to this, Dr. Giftos served as the Clinical Director of Substance Use Treatment for the Division of Correctional Health Services at Rikers Island, where he oversaw diversion, harm reduction, treatment and reentry services for incarcerated patients with substance use disorders. He was also the medical director of the Key Extended Entry Program (KEEP), the nation's oldest and largest jail-based OTP on Rikers Island.
