Conversations with CEI

The 2026 ACC/AHA/Multisociety Dyslipidemia Guideline recommends statin therapy for primary prevention of ASCVD for all people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged 40 to 75 years, independently of their traditional ASCVD risk score. This replaces previous calculator-based thresholds. On this episode, Antonio Urbina, MD, Medical Director for CEI’s HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence, outlines the latest cardiovascular health guidelines for persons living with HIV. Related Content: 
CEI Line: 1-866-637-2342
https://ceitraining.org/
2026 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia

Hosts Margie Urban, MD, and Daniela DiMarco, MD, MPH, are joined by Jason Zucker, MD. Dr. Zucker is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and is also the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Medical Director of the New York City STD and HIV Prevention Training Center. This podcast gives a snapshot of Dr. Zucker’s review of the most influential STI-related publications of 2025. Dr. Zucker will be giving a presentation, titled STI Management: Top Papers of 2025 That Will Impact Your Management Today or Tomorrow, taking place on July 13, 2026. Additional information can be found at the link below. Related content:
CEI Line: 1-866-637-2342
www.ceitraining.org
www.hivguidelines.org
Webinar registration link (7/13)- STI Management

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. It is also a movement for social justice build on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs. Although harm reduction was introduced as a U.S. Federal Drug Policy Priority in 2022, it’s currently facing funding cuts that threaten life-saving resources and services.
In this episode, we’ll hear from harm reductionist Giorgio Handman who has over 15 years’ experience advocating for and implementing harm reduction to support New Yorkers. He will share his personal experience with harm reduction and talk about the evolution and future of harm reduction. Related Content:
Harlem United / History of the Foundation for Research on Sexually Transmitted Disease (FROST’D): https://www.harlemunited.org/frostd-joins-harlem-united-family/
VOCAL New York: https://www.vocal-ny.org/
National Harm Reduction Coalition: https://harmreduction.org/
New York State Office for Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Harm Reduction: https://oasas.ny.gov/harm-reduction
Hawk, M., Coulter, R.W.S., Egan, J.E., et al. (2017). Harm reduction principles for healthcare settings. Harm Reduct J. 14(70). doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-017-0196-4
SAMHSA Dear Colleague Letter: https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dear-colleague-letter-upated-hr-funding-guidance.pdf
CEI Line: 1-866-637-2342 
https://ceitraining.org/

Two recent studies have shown remarkable advances in HIV cure research: (1) a Norwegian man who achieved long-term HIV remission after a stem cell transplant from his brother and (2) a Phase 1 trial testing CAR-T cell therapy. On this episode, Antonio Urbina, MD, Medical Director for CEI’s HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence, dives into these studies and puts them into clinical context, including how to discuss cure research with patients. Related Content:
CEI Line: 1-866-637-2342 
https://ceitraining.org/
Clinicaltrials.gov

Host Marguerite Urban, MD is joined by William DeWitt, MD, Clinical Director of Anal Health in Primary Care at Northwell Health, to discuss a new coalition forming in New York City about anal dysplasia. ASSETS-NY aims to bring together people in this field and harness momentum to drive further research and implementation of anal dysplasia and cancer screening, surveillance, education and treatment in New York State. Be sure to check out the coalition’s website at https://www.screenyourbutt.org/nyc/. Related Content: 
CEI Line: 1-866-637-2342 
www.ceitraining.org  
www.hivguidelines.org  
ASSETS-NY Website: https://www.screenyourbutt.org/nyc/ 
NYS DOH AIDS Institute, “Screening for Anal Dysplasia and Cancer in Adults With HIV” guidelines: https://www.hivguidelines.org/guideline/hiv-anal-cancer/#toc_wurop7uf  
International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS): https://www.iansoc.org/

New York State’s Hepatitis C Dashboard shows that in 2023, 4,783 people were newly diagnosed with HCV in the state, an 8% decrease from 2022. Incidence also decreased, with the rate of new HCV infections dropping from 4.0 to 3.6 per 100,000 population among adult New Yorkers. Despite these gains, progress towards elimination has been stalled by reliance on a multi-step diagnostic algorithm to confirm viremia. In populations with the highest risk of infection – including people who inject drugs – testing and treatment are often inaccessible due to barriers along the care cascade.
On June 27, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first point-of-care (POC) HCV RNA test that can be performed where a person receives care, like an outpatient clinic or mobile unit. The availability of a POC HCV RNA testing, which can provide a qualitative results in 60 minutes, unlocks New York’s ability to integrate a test-and-treat approach where a person can be tested for HCV, and if positive for HCV RNA, be linked to care and potentially receive treatment during the same health care visit. To achieve elimination goals, simplified care that engaged people who inject drugs is essential, and single encounter testing and treatment offers a new tool to significantly expand access, decrease time from diagnosis to treatment and increase the number of New Yorkers who are treated for HCV.
Today’s episode will focus on this new diagnostic tool and its potential impact on HCV elimination across New York. Related Content: 
New York State Department of Health Clinical Guidelines Program, Hepatitis C Virus Screening, Testing, and Diagnosis in Adults (January 2023): https://www.hivguidelines.org/guideline/hcv-testing/?mycollection=hepatitis-care
New York State Department of Health Hepatitis C Dashboard: https://hcvdashboardny.org/
New York State Department of Health, Frequently Asked Questions for Hepatitis C Point of Care Diagnostic Testing (June 2025): https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/hepatitis/hepatitis_c/providers/docs/poc_faq.pdf
Erie County Medical Center’s Center for Hepatology Care (La Bodega): https://medicine.buffalo.edu/news_and_events/news/2020/04/martinez-bodega-hepatology-clinic-10699.html
U.S. Food and Drug Administration News Release, FDA Permits Marketing of First Point-of-Care Hepatitis C RNA Test (June 2024): https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-permits-marketing-first-point-care-hepatitis-c-rna-test
MacIsaac MB, et al. Point-of-care HCV RNA testing improves hepatitis C testing rates and allows rapid treatment initiation among people who inject drugs attending a medically supervised injecting facility. Int J Drug Policy. 2024 March:125:104317. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104317.
Point-of-care HCV RNA testing how to video: https://vimeo.com/1172653335?fl=ip&fe=ec

Based on data from 2023-24, roughly 23% of New Yorkers aged 21 or older reported cannabis use in the past 12 months. Although men generally have a higher prevalence of use than women, recent studies show a narrowing gap as female consumption rises. Despite this trend, research is sorely lacking on the impact of cannabis use on pregnancy, birth outcomes and overall health. Many advisory panels and organizations advise against the use of cannabis during pregnancy, but there are numerous reasons pregnant people choose to use.
On today’s episode, we’ll talk through the evidence and provide best practices for caring for pregnant persons who use cannabis.  Related Content: 
New York State Department of Health Clinical Guidelines Program Therapeutic Use of Medical Cannabis in New York State (October 2025): https://www.suguidelinesnys.org/guideline/med-cannabis/?mytab=tab_6/#pregnancy
New York State Department of Health Office of Cannabis Management Cannabis Considerations for Pregnant and Breastfeeding/Chest Feeding Individuals (2022): https://cannabis.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/07/cannabis-considerations-for-pregnant-and-breastfeeding-chestfeeding-individuals-fact-sheet_v2.pdf
New York State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Brief (November 2024-05): https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/brfss/reports/docs/2024-05_brfss_cannabis_use.pdf
New York State Office of Cannabis Management Cannabis Education Library: https://cannabis.ny.gov/education
Zolotov Y, Mendoza Temple L, Isralowitz R, et al. Developing Medical Cannabis Competencies: A Consensus Statement. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(10):e2535049. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.35049
Raz M, Gupta-Kagan J, & Asnes A. THC Ingestions and Child Protective Services: Guidelines for Practitioners. J Addict Med. 2025 July-Aug;19(4):350-52. doi:10/1097/ADM.0000000000001441
Data to Action: Cannabis consumption during the perinatal period and clinicians’ screening and advising, New York State outside of New York City, 2017-2018 and 2021-2022: https://apps.health.ny.gov/public/tabvis/PHIG_Public/prams/publications/Cannabis_consumption_during_the_perinatal_period.pdf
Project CBD: http://projectcbd.com/
American College of Gynecologists and Obstetrics Clinical Consensus on Cannabis Use during Pregnancy and Lactation (October 2025): https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2025/10/cannabis-use-during-pregnancy-and-lactation
CEI Training, Clinical Approaches to Medical Cannabis: https://ceitraining.org/courses/1589
CEI Clinical Consultation Line1-866-637-2342 A toll-free service for NYS clinicians offering real-time clinical consultations with specialists on HIV, sexual health, hepatitis C, and drug user health.
https://ceitraining.org/
 

Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2026 took place from February 22 to 25 in Denver, Colorado. CROI is an annual scientific meeting devoted to the understanding, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS and the opportunistic infections associated with AIDS. Thousands of leading researchers and clinicians from around the world convene in each year for the Conference.
On this episode, Antonio Urbina, MD, Medical Director for CEI’s HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence, reflects on this year’s conference and shares his highlights about exciting developments in the world of HIV prevention and treatment.  Related Content:
CROI
University of Liverpool HIV Drug Interactions Checker (website and app)
CEI Clinical Consultation Line1-866-637-2342 A toll-free service for NYS clinicians offering real-time clinical consultations with specialists on HIV, sexual health, hepatitis C, and drug user health.
https://ceitraining.org/

Host Dr. Erica Bostick from the University of Rochester Medical Center Division of Adolescent Medicine chats with Dr. Stacy Sun, a double board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology and complex family planning at the University of Rochester, about misconceptions they hear from patients about contraception. Should patients get their hormone levels checked before starting a birth control method? What is emergency contraception and how does it work? Is it safe to use contraception to suppress the menstrual cycle? What do recent studies show about the Depo-Provera shot and the risk of meningioma? Listen to this episode to hear all about these common questions and more, and to get real examples of counseling tips from Dr. Bostick and Dr. Sun! Related Content: 
CEI Line: 1-866-637-2342
https://ceitraining.org/
www.hivguidelines.org
Curtis KM, Nguyen AT, Tepper NK, et al. U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024.MMWR Recomm Rep 2024;73(No. RR-3):1–77. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7303a1
Nguyen AT, Curtis KM, Tepper NK, et al. U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024. MMWRRecomm Rep 2024;73(No. RR-4):1–126. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7304a1
Xiao T, Kumar P, Lobbous M, Yogi-Morren D, Soni P, Recinos PF, Kshettry VR. Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate and Risk of Meningioma in the US. JAMA Neurology. 2025;82(11):1094-1102. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.3011.
Roland N, Neumann A, Hoisnard L, Duranteau L, Froelich S, Zureik M, Weill A. Use of progestogens and the risk of intracranial meningioma: national case-control study. BMJ. 2024;384:e078078. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-078078

Effective February 19, 2026, New York State law permits clinicians to dispense up to 72 hours (equivalent to a 3-day supply) of controlled substances, such as methadone and buprenorphine, for the management of opioid withdrawal while arranging referral and linkage to care for persons with opioid use disorder, as authorized by federal regulations (specifically, the Code of Federal Regulations or CFR number 1306.07). The federal regulations were updated in August 2023, and New York State law is just now catching up. We informally refer to the update as “The 72-Hour Rule.”
Featuring Dr. Linda Wang, this episode reviews what this update means for New York State and how clinicians and healthcare administrators can think about its implementation.
Are you implementing “The 72-Hour Rule” in clinical practice in New York State? We want to hear from you! Please reach out to share your experience: Lauren.walker3@mountsinai.org. Related Content: 
New York State Senate Bill S3416D: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3416/amendment/D
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 1306.07: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-II/part-1306/subject-group-ECFR1eb5bb3a23fddd0/section-1306.07
Skogrand E, et al. (2024). Dispensing methadone at hospital discharge: One hospital’s approach to implementing the “72-hour rule” change. J Addict Med. 2024; 18(1):71-74. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001246.
Shahlapour M, et al. (2024). Novel uses of methadone under the “72-hour rule” to facilitate transitions of care and low-dose buprenorphine induction in an outpatient bridge clinic. J Addict Med. 2024; 18(3):345-347. doi: 10/1097/ADM.0000000000001281.
Taylor JL, et al. (2022). Bridge clinic implementation of "72-hour rule" methadone for opioid withdrawal management: Impact on opioid treatment program linkage and retention in care. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022; 236:109497. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109497.
CEI Clinical Consultation Line1-866-637-2342 A toll-free service for NYS clinicians offering real-time clinical consultations with specialists on HIV, sexual health, hepatitis C, and drug user health.
https://ceitraining.org/