Conversations with CEI

On June 18, 2025, the FDA approved Yeztugo, the brand name for subcutaneous lenacapavir, a prescription medication used for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV.  Subcutaneous lenacapavir is administered twice a year (every six months) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents at risk. With patients only needing lenacapavir twice a year for HIV prevention, the field has been optimistic about t...

This month, host Dr. Marguerite Urban chats with Dr. Jason Zucker, an adult and pediatric infectious diseases physician at Columbia University and the assistant medical director of the New York City HIV/STI Prevention Training Center, about an emerging fungal infection, Trichophyton mentagrophytes Genotype VII, also known as TMVII. Curious about what clinicians should know about TMVII? Listen now to learn more! Related Content:

On September 9th, CEI hosted its first in-person conference dedicated to hepatitis C and drug user health. A group of New York State-based clinicians met in Catskill for a full day agenda focused on (1) integrating wellness into clinical practice as a way to improve patient care and outcomes, and (2) innovative decision-making frameworks to help clinicians navigate complex scenarios in the absence of strong formal evidence, like cl...

In this episode of Conversations with CEI, Dr. Steven Fine unpacks some of the latest developments and research presented at the 2025 International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science, held in Kigali, Rwanda. From innovative treatment strategies to advancements in prevention and global health equity, Dr. Fine highlights the pivotal discussions and groundbreaking studies that are shaping the future of HIV care. Tune in to g...

Live from Canandaigua…it’s the 11th Annual NYS Sexual Health Conference!

The CEI Sexual Health Center of Excellence hosted the 11th Annual NYS Sexual Health Conference in-person on Friday May 2, 2025, in beautiful Canandaigua, NY. This was the Center’s second in-person conference since the COVID-19 pandemic and was the Center’s largest in-person event held to-date, bringing together over 225 clinicians and public health professiona...

New York drug overdose deaths and death rates are on the decline, but with significant disparities and the current, toxic drug supply is partially to blame. Harmful additives like fentanyl analogues, xylazine and medetomidine, among others, have been found in cocaine, heroin, MDMA and pressed into pills. Additives are undetectable by sight, taste and smell which increases the risk of overdose for people who use and may not be aware...

In this episode of Conversations with CEI, we engage with CEI’s clinicians, researchers, and public health experts to explore current and emerging issues in HIV primary care, sexual health, Hepatitis C, and drug user health.

From the early days of the HIV epidemic to today’s complex syndemic approach, our experts share valuable insights and practical strategies for translating science into practice.

We emphasize the importance of a...

In light of the increase in measles cases within the United States, this episode features Dr. Steven Fine, an infectious disease expert, who offers a comprehensive exploration of the history and progress of measles eradication efforts. Dr. Fine delves into the factors contributing to the resurgence of measles, particularly the role of misinformation in undermining public trust and vaccination efforts. Additionally, Dr. Fine walks u...

In May 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its annual HIV surveillance reports. The new data show a continuation of year-over-year reductions through 2022 in the estimated number of new HIV infections in the United States. But disconcerting trends among Latino people — the country’s second-largest racial or ethnic group after White, non-Latino people — reflect persistent failures in HIV prevention an...

Let’s dive in!

This month, we welcome new hosts Patrick Passarelli, MD, an infectious diseases fellow at the University of Rochester, and Nicholas Gerbino, a public health professional at the Monroe County Sexual Health Clinic, who take a deep dive into all things syphilis. Dr. Passarelli and Nick discuss history, epidemiological trends, updates and diagnostics, screening strategies, and new studies exploring additional treatment a...

Between 2010 and 2022 (the latest year for which data are available), 194,375 New Yorkers were diagnosed with hepatitis C (HCV) and of those, 53% (103,213 individuals) are known to have cleared their infection either through treatment or spontaneously. This statistic is worth celebrating, but also highlights the ongoing need for action – the goal outlined in New York State’s Hepatitis C Elimination Plan is to reach 80% by 2030. Fur...

Research suggests that LGBTQ adults have higher rates of substance use and mental health issues, compared to their heterosexual cisgender peers.  These health disparities are often related to minority stress—the chronic psychological and emotional strain that people experience due to being part of a marginalized social group. For example, some LGBTQ folks may use alcohol and drugs to cope with internalized homophobia or to self-med...

For the first time since 2018 and since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosted their biennial STI Prevention Conference in-person in Atlanta, GA from September 16 – 19, 2024. This event brought together international leading researchers with government experts, clinical sexual healthcare providers, and state and local public health administrators for four days of scientific updates and sessions...

Are current guidelines failing chronic pain patients with a history of substance-use disorders? Find out why Dr. Wang and Dr. Kelly are calling for urgent policy changes and how updated guidelines can support effective pain management.

Join us for a compelling discussion on the intersection of chronic pain and substance use disorders with insights from Dr. Linda Wang, Medical Director of CEI's Hepatitis C and Drug User Health Cente...

“This podcast discusses the recent presentation of data for lenacapavir, a potent capsid inhibitor for HIV that was 100% effective in preventing HIV infection in cis-gender woman at risk for HIV. If approved, it will offer an exciting new option to prevent HIV which should dramatically improve our chances of reaching the goal of totally eliminating new HIV infections.  The trial compared twice yearly injections of lenacapavir to bo...

Providers calling into our CEI hotline often ask me what to do when their patient's HIV test results are unclear. These ambiguous or discordant test results can be a source of anxiety and confusion for both patients and healthcare providers alike.

To provide additional insight into this complex issue, Dr. Tony Urbina, Professor of Medicine from Mt. Sinai Health System and Medical Director of the New York State CEI HIV Primary Care...

“Nobody goes into adolescent medicine or into a field of medicine that serves adolescent patients because it’s simple and straightforward, right?”

In May 2024, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Clinical Guidelines Program published an update to the guidelines, “Guidance: Adolescent Consent to HIV and STI Treatment and Prevention.” These guidelines serve to inform New York State clinicians who provide primary ca...