In the annual Profiles in Pride, the Mount Sinai Health System recognizes employees for their leadership and dedication to LGBTQ+ health equity. This year, we salute the following employees.
Richard Silvera, MD, MPH, CPH (he, him)
Interim Program Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Champion for Access to HIV- and LGBT-Inclusive Research and Care
Dr. Silvera’s research in HIV prevention and care, including HIV vaccine research and studies of acute HIV infections, helped him establish sexual health clinics in commercial sex venues in New York City. After completing his medical training with specific focus on people with HIV and the LGBTQ+ community, he is now an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He also conducts diagnostic research into anal cancers and precancers among LGBTQ+ people and those with HIV.
Josiane Hickson, EdD, RN, NE-BC, NPD-BC (she, her)
Senior System Nursing Education Manager, Orientation and Onboarding
Ally in Educating the Next Generation of Nurses and Assistive Staff
As a systemwide nurse educator for onboarding and orienting new nurses and assistive nursing staff, Dr. Hickson provides guidance and resources to ensure that newly hired nurses understand the health care needs and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. Among them are providing inclusive education, facilitating open dialogue, providing evidence-based practice resources, and emphasizing the importance of treating all patients with dignity, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Alex Escaja-Heiss (he/they/el/elle)
Health Education Associate, Institute for Advanced Medicine
Leading Access to LGBTQ+ Patient Health Education
As the Health Education Associate at Mount Sinai’s Institute for Advanced Medicine,
Alex conducts outreach and health education, providing accessible and inclusive STI testing and care coordination at schools, community organizations, and nightlife venues. Alex is a newer member of the Mount Sinai team, but has been working in health education and advocacy since age 14. His work as a young LGBTQ+ peer educator, organizer, and filmmaker landed him a feature in Teen Vogue as one of GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 Rising Stars.
Leila Jeanpierre, MPH (they/them)
LGBTQ+ Program Intern, Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)
Forging Health Career Pathways for LGBTQ+ Young People
Leila has worked with ODI for the past two years, specifically with the LGBTQ+ team on developing and implementing the health careers pathway outreach activities and summer internships. They started as an intern, working on LGBTQ+-inclusive materials for nursing orientations and compiling data on existing LGBTQ+ community organizations in New York City. They are passionate about health equity and conducted a research project, for their Master of Public Health program, on LGBTQ+ mental health services.
Derek Chen (he/they)
Medical Student, Class of 2027, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Mentoring the Next Generation of LGBTQ+ Clinicians
Derek is committed to improving health outcomes among LGBTQ+ patients. He conducts research with the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery (CTMS) and was a section leader for the 2023 United States Professional Association for Transgender Health (USPATH) Scientific Symposium. He is co-leading a “Trans Buddy” volunteer initiative that pairs CTMS patients with health advocates. He is a Stonewall Alliance co-chair and has worked on initiatives such as Saturday at Sinai, a pathway program for LGBTQ+ youth interested in medicine.
