New Jersey Harm Reduction Conference 2024

Dr. Kaitlan Baston is the New Jersey Commissioner of Health. Prior to this role, she built and led the Cooper Center for Healing and was an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Read Dr. Baston’s full bio on nj.gov.

Jason Beltre is the Director of Community Initiatives and Impact at OnPoint NYC. In his current role, Jason orchestrates transformative strategies to address health disparities and promote holistic well-being, amplifying the organization’s reach and efficacy in serving the community.

Jim Duffy is the Director of Smoke Works Boston. He has spearheaded initiatives expanding access to safer smoking supplies across 40+ states, prioritizing services for HIV prevention and stimulant use. Read Jim Duffy’s bio on smokeworks.org.

Terrell Jones is the Outreach and Advocacy Program Manager, OnPoint NYC. Terrell is an advocate for drug policy reform, an activist to advance harm reduction throughout New York City and New York State, and a vocal supporter of giving people a second chance. Terrell is also Co-Director of the Peer Network of New York and on the Board of Faith in Harm Reduction.

Jenna Mellor is the co-founder and Executive Director of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition, with over ten years of experience at the intersection direct service and public policy. She previously served as the first Associate Director at Point Source Youth, aide to Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Outreach Manager at HIPS, and has advised the New Jersey Department of Health on harm reduction best practices.

Brandon Munoz is the Assistant Director of the Outreach and Public Safety Team at OnPoint NYC. He has worked in harm reduction since 2015 in various capacities. Harm reduction and outreach are Brandon’s passions, and he firmly adheres to the harm reduction philosophy of meeting people where they are.

Amesika Nyaku, MD, MS, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a physician-scientist. She provides clinical care for people living with HIV or other infectious diseases and substance use disorders. Her research interests lie at the intersection of HIV and substance use disorders. Read Dr. Nyaku’s bio on Rutgers.edu.

Heather Ogden is a consultant for NJ DOH, coordinating SUD recovery and harm reduction efforts in the state. She is a certified peer in both mental health and addiction, as well as a counselor intern.

Sam Rivera is the Executive Director of OnPoint NYC. His primary areas of focus are criminal justice/reentry, HIV/AIDS, harm reduction, addiction/recovery, and mental health. He is currently leading technical assistance efforts in overdose prevention and harm reduction for other jurisdictions within the United States.

Georgett Shelton is the President and Chief Executive Officer at South Jersey AIDS Alliance. She is responsible for the oversight, development, implementation, and supervision of 20 care, prevention, and harm reduction programs in the three southernmost counties in New Jersey.

Shelia Vakharia is the Deputy Director of Research and Academic Engagement at the Drug Policy Alliance.  Vakharia is the author of The Harm Reduction Gap: Helping Individuals Left Behind by Conventional Drug Prevention and Abstinence-Only Treatment. Read Shelia Vakharia’s full bio on drugpolicy.org.