BridgeHIV

Our Team

Group photo of Bridge HIV staff

Our Team

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Susan Buchbinder, MD

(she/her)

Susan completed her medical training at UCSF. Her research focuses on risk factors for HIV acquisition and interventions to prevent HIV infection, including HIV vaccines, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), behavioral interventions, rectal microbicides and combination modalities. Learn more about Dr. Buchbinder.

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Albert Liu, MD, MPH

(he/him)

Al completed his medical training at UCSF. His research focuses on testing new PrEP strategies for HIV prevention and optimizing the delivery of PrEP in the community.
Learn more about Dr. Liu.

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Hyman Scott, MD MPH

(he/him)

Hyman completed his medical training at Yale and UCSF. He fights for health equity by combining biomedical & behavioral strategies in HIV prevention research.
Learn more about Dr. Scott.

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Cat-Dancing Alleyne

(she/her)

Cat-Dancing is thrilled to be a part of the ongoing effort at Bridge HIV to engage our communities locally and globally in ending HIV! She is ardent and eager to further immerse herself in this activism.

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Christopher Britton

(he/him)

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from UC Santa Cruz and an MPH in Public Health from West Coast University. His interests are in clinical drug research and combating health disparities such as access to health services for vulnerable communities.

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Alfonso Diaz

(he/him)

Alfonso has over 15 years of experience in the field of HIV prevention research. In his career he has worked with queer youth, and with homeless & low-income adults.

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Essie Garcia

(she/her)

Essie graduated with a BA in Communications Studies from University of San Francisco. Her passion for investigating intersectionality has brought her to focus on ending health disparities amongst those under or misrepresented.

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Sam Gassen

(they/them)

Sam is a first generation Mexican-American & member of the LGBTQ+ community. They find hope working with our participants in both English & Spanish. They strive to make their family orgulloso through their work in HIV prevention.

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Avery Hines

(he/they)

Dedicated to serving others, Avery embodies a commitment to fostering connections and making a tangible difference in the lives of those around him. His passion for community helps his team empower thoughtful and meaningful outreach within the Bay Area.


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Madison Holman

(she/her)

Madison has been working in the medical field for over 10 years and is currently pursuing her BA in Public Health so that she may further contribute to improving the health outcomes of her community. She is dedicated to cultivating autonomy in healthcare settings for LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color.

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Juwann Moss

(he/him)

Juwann studied Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He is grateful for the opportunity to do his part in advancing HIV prevention research.

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Geovanny Muñoz Acosta

(he/él)

Geovanny earned a Bachelor of Arts in Community Health from Tufts University. He is passionate about community engaged research and strives to apply a participant-centered approach to his work.

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Emily Schaeffer

(she/her)

Emily is a graduate of Northwestern University, with a background in theater. Now she uses her organizational skills to support our studies and human research protections.

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Ivette Vazquez

(she/they)

Ivette is a San Francisco Native who has worked in healthcare for 10 years. A graduate of the UCSF School of Nursing, she has a passion for sexual health education and health equity.

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Janie Vinson

(they/she)

Janie studied graphic design at Academy of Art University and has Bachelor of Arts in Peace Studies from the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies at the University of Redlands.

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In Memoriam

Garza Jose Carlos Asencios

As a core member of the Bridge HIV team for over 17 years, Garza was a powerful member of the LGBT community in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a former professional ballet dancer, activist, advocate, and recipient of the Ollin Award for community Service from Instituto Familiar de la Raza.

Learn more about Garza

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In Memoriam

Patricia Von Felten

Patricia was a crucial member of the Bridge HIV team for over 13 years. As a gifted database programmer, she was a meticulous caretaker and guardian of our research data. She was unfalteringly committed to everything she did whether that be mastering her golf swing, harnessing the empathy that inspired her work, or helping others navigate the complexities of human experience.