Bio Type: CAMP Staff

Philadelphia’s syringe exchange and wound care clinic. The foundation of her clinical philosophy and practice is harm reduction – a social justice movement as well as a practical approach to reducing the negative consequences of substance use. In addition to producing concrete evidence-based strategies to improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs, harm reduction shines a light on the rich, everyday opportunities health professionals have to learn from and work with people who use drugs. As a Bloomberg Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, her work centers on reducing stigma, and strengthening Penn’s capacity to respond to the opioid/substance use crisis through the integration of harm reduction, and bridging Penn’s medical services to community-based and public health efforts.

Lindsey Jo is a Research Coordinator for the Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy’s new intervention study for patients with serious injection-related injuries in collaboration with the Infectious Disease Department. She has spent the last two years as a case manager and patient navigator in Kensington, linking unhoused clients with treatment for OUD (Opioid Use Disorder), infectious disease care, housing, and government assistance programs. In her free time, Lindsey Jo enjoys spoiling her orange tabby Charlie, doing harm reduction outreach in the underground Philly music scene, and spending time with her friends and family.

Patrick is a Certified Recovery Specialist, Substance Use Navigator, and Research Coordinator.  Prior to joining the CAMP team, he worked for a local Recovery Community Organization serving Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties. Patrick is group facilitator with the “BRIDGING THE GAPS” program, which links the provision of health-related service for under-resourced communities with the inter-professional training of health and social service professionals. Pat is also the co-founder of “Kensington Cares” – a local outreach program that provides food, clothing and harm reduction resources, on a grassroot level in the Kensington community.

Kelsey is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. She applies a background in mutual aid, harm reduction, and medical anthropology to work making the hospital accessible and less stigmatizing for people who use drugs. This includes organizing 1:1 hospital accompaniment and support for community members seeking care through emergency departments in the Philadelphia area. She is passionate about putting supplies and knowledge in the hands of patients, learning from community members, and providing a nonjudgmental space to discuss medical concerns. When she’s not packing wound care kits, she enjoys reading, playing tennis, and cooking for family and friends.

Natasa is a Clinical Research Coordinator and Substance Use Navigator with the Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy. She works on the CareConnect Warmline connecting patients to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and coordinates clinical studies in the Emergency Department. Natasa strives for ethical research and advocacy, with the understanding that people who use drugs are experts in their own care. As a former physical chemist, she brings experience with data, and a passion for social justice and for drug users’ rights. She is planning to pursue a career in medicine, with a particular interest in patients with chronic pain and opioid use disorder. In her free time, Natasa enjoys spending time with her cats, hiking, and going to local farmers markets.

M is a clinical research coordinator for the Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy. They bring experience working with people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, gender diverse populations and people engaged in sex work. M is a passionate advocate for health care equity. Foundational to their work is the belief in harm reduction as a social justice movement that centers and respects the rights of people who use drugs. They are currently pursuing a nursing degree and in their free time they enjoy reading fiction, cuddling their cats, making just about any kind of art, and talking to anyone who will listen about the joys of harm reduction.

Gilly is a Project Manager for the Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy’s new Police-Assisted Diversion (PAD) program. Gilly has supported the growth of the CareConnect Warmline and led new initiatives for enhancing MOUD training and education for students and faculty with support from SAMHSA. Their work has also focused on community outreach in West Philly and building new partnerships to better support care linkages. Gilly has extensive experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia and individuals experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use diagnoses. Their past and current work is centered around ensuring equitable low-barrier access to resources and improving existing care models. Gilly is working towards obtaining their Masters in Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. In their free time, Gilly enjoys playing rugby, pickleball, and spending time with friends and family.

Jasmine is the Project Manager of the new “Linkage to Care-Embedding Peers in the ED” program. In partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), this work will expand access to MOUD, warm hand-offs to community providers and peer support to patients who present to the HUP Cedar ED.  Jasmine is passionate about building bridges between community members, grassroots organizations, and healthcare systems. She possesses genuine passion for empowering communities to realize their full potential and advocating for equity and inclusivity. She leads several community engagement initiatives at CAMP and has been instrumental in efforts to form and engage our Community Advisory Board (CAB). She strives to partner with community leaders to make harm reduction education and supplies more accessible. Her approach to community engagement is built on active listening, empathy, and collaboration. She believes that every voice matters and that sustainable solutions arise from collective efforts driven by the community. She received her Master of Public Health from La Salle University in May 2022. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys spending time in nature, reading the latest research on pressing public health issues, spending quality time with family and friends and traveling.

Nikki is a Certified Recovery Specialist and Research Coordinator for Women’s Health at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Neonatal Follow Up Clinic & Resilience After Infant Substance Exposure (NFP-RISE) Program and the Penn PROUD (Perinatal Resources for Opioid Use Disorder) Clinic.  Nikki has extensive experience in peer support, behavioral health, and training and development. Nikki is passionate about helping patients address and find balance in their “8 Dimensions of Wellness” while meeting patients where they are so that they can achieve their recovery, health, and wellness goals. Nikki currently serves on the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition Health Committee and The National Federation of the Blind, Keystone and Greater Philadelphia Chapters. Nikki is founder and organizer of two support and social groups which help educate and support people with chronic illness and women of color. Nikki loves to teach and learn new things. In her spare time, she enjoys attending Broadway plays in NY, concerts, traveling, shopping and playing various card games, favorite being pinochle.

Brittany is the project manager of Emergency Medicine Opioid Use Research. She takes pride in compassionately supporting her patients and navigating them to the best level of care possible in the acute care setting. She has managed clinical research under the Emergency Department-Initiated Buprenorphine and Validation Network Trial which has measured treatment engagement of patients who received the Brixadi 7-day slow release injection. She also manages the Drug Overdose Toxico Surveillance study in partnership with the FDA, collecting bio-specimens and patient interviews on individuals who report to the hospital post-overdose. Brittany is rooted in harm reduction and uses her unique role in the emergency department to advocate for these practices in the clinical care setting. She received her Masters of Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania in December 2022 and also works as a contributing author of Filter Magazine, an online harm reduction magazine.