Montefiore Einstein AIDS Center Receives $6.8 Million to Bring More Prevention and Treatment Options to the Bronx

Montefiore Einstein AIDS Center, one of the largest HIV prevention and treatment programs in New York State, has been awarded $6.8 million in New York State and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene funding to amplify its already robust prevention and treatment program for Bronx adults and youth over the next five years. The three grants are focused on Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), including the LGBTQ+ community.

One in four new HIV diagnoses in New York City happens in the Bronx. Most of the individuals impacted by this virus identify as Black or Hispanic and are under 40 years old.

“We have made tremendous strides in addressing HIV and AIDS. But since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, communities of color and people who identify as LGBTQ+ remain at higher risk and unacceptable disparities remain,” said Barry S. Zingman, MD, Medical Director,  Montefiore Einstein AIDS Center, Clinical Director, Infectious Diseases, Moses Division, Montefiore Einstein, Medical Director, The Jacobs Family Pride Wellness Center, Montefiore Nyack Hospital and Professor, Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Principal Investigator for all three grants. “The funding from New York State and City allows us to expand services, and enhance our team with more counselors, patient educators and mental health support to ensure our patients obtain the comprehensive care required to meet their medical and psychosocial needs, both to optimally treat those living with HIV and to prevent it in people who are at higher risk. Importantly, the new funding also enables us to increase services that will help us to identify and address barriers to care like lack of healthy food, unhealthy living conditions and unstable housing.”

The three grants are described below:

• Advancing Health Equity Through Comprehensive Community-Based HIV Ambulatory Care Services: Component A, Retention and Adherence Program (for the Center for Positive Living/Infectious Diseases Clinic): Focuses on both newly diagnosed patients and those who were previously diagnosed who are on antiretroviral therapy that has failed to suppress their viral load (associated with decreased survival and increased HIV transmission).
• Advancing Health Equity Through Comprehensive Community-Based HIV Ambulatory Care Services: Component B, Centers for Young Adults (for the Oval Center at Montefiore): Enables Montefiore Einstein to provide 13–29-year-old BIPOC, LGBTQ+ Bronx patients living with HIV with comprehensive primary, HIV and mental health care.

• 24-PHC-165P for PlaySure Network 2.0 in Health Care Settings: A high-performing site since the start of this funding in 2022, Montefiore Einstein earned more funding in 2023 to increase screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV and to improve access to medicines like PrEP and PEP (pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis) that prevent HIV. Funding also supported activities to address mpox (formerly called monkeypox), which disproportionately affects gay, bi, trans and other men who have sex with men as well as other racial and ethnic minority groups in New York City.

 “Our experience consistently reinforces the importance of regularly learning from and caring for our communities, particularly people who are stigmatized and might be distrustful and disengaged from the healthcare system. Having these additional funds and support from the state and city will help us make a real difference in people’s lives and we hope will create opportunities to recognize and celebrate our achievements on future World AIDS Days,” said Dr. Zingman.

Earlier in December, the Oval Center, part of the Montefiore Einstein AIDS Center, was awarded a New York State Department of Health Commissioner’s Special Recognition Award in the HIV category, and The Jacobs Family Pride Wellness Center of Montefiore Nyack Hospital was awarded a Commissioner’s Special Recognition Award in the LGBTQ+ category at the Department of Health’s Annual World AIDS Day event.