FIGHTERs: Profiles

  • Allen Howell

    Allen Howell, TREE/IOP

    Because of personal experiences regarding friends and family who have died from HIV/AIDS at a time when the only treatment available was AZT.

  • Angela Kapalko

    Angela Kapalko, Lax Center

    HIV/AIDS has been a puzzle and mystery in the general medical community. I always wanted to help solve the puzzle and now I have the chance.

  • Bert Pannapacker

    Bert Pannapacker, Administration

  • Carmen

    Carmen Altopiedi, Client Services

    I knew that Philadelphia FIGHT was a grassroots agency that worked with parolees, uninsured, and underinsured. I was drawn to the hands-on case management work.

  • Hannah Zellman

    Hannah Zellman, Institute for Community Justice

    Because of FIGHT's unyielding commitment to social justice work. FIGHT is a rarity in the social service field, because all the incredible direct services we provide are grounded in activism.

  • Helen Koenig

    Helen Koenig, Lax Center

    I love having the opportunity to care for people infected with and affected by HIV, to work with peers who are motivated and caring, and to be a part of an organization like FIGHT that values primary care, patient advocacy, and clinical research.

  • Jane Shull

    Jane Shull, Administration

  • Joe Garland

    Joe Garland, Lax Center

    I have wanted to work at FIGHT since I first moved to Philadelphia four years ago. I believe strongly in working as a physician in a practice that offers care to people regardless of insurance status, immigration status, or ability to pay; and at an agency that combines the provision of quality services with the tools of advocacy.

  • Karam Mounzer

    Karam Mounzer, Lax Center

    I share the same objectives as FIGHT’s mission: provide our patients with a longer, better, and meaningful quality of life.

  • Katie Dunphy

    Katie Dunphy, Y-HEP

    I had always admired the comprehensive nature of FIGHT’s services therefore, I sought out working for FIGHT because of my strong belief in its mission and how it carries out its programs. I wanted to be a part of a team that approaches the epidemic from a holistic perspective. I was fortunate to be able to join Y-HEPs team which was a natural fit for me. Working with youth, teaching them tangible skills to navigate their worlds and prevention have been a part of my passion both in my personal life and throughout my education. At Y-HEP we have the ability to work with youth, support them where they are and help them grow into the people that they want to be is a powerful experience.

  • LaNelta Nobles

    LaNelta Nobles, Lax Center

    To be able to provide better service to the HIV community by assisting them with all their medication needs.

  • Sarah Smith

    Sarah Smith, Lax Center

    Because of the honesty and non-judgemental attitude of patients and staff alike.

  • Terry Trudeau

    Terry Trudeau, Administration

    FIGHT was an organization moving in the right direction when I came on board. We were spawning a pilot program to provide care to HIV infected patients with the vision of case management, nutrition and alternative therapies all under one roof. It was an exciting time to start working at FIGHT. We’ve grown 5 fold (since then).

  • Thom Thomson

    Thom Thomson, Lax Center

    FIGHT’s mission providing quality comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and support with an explicit grounding in social justice—embodies all of the reasons I switched careers to become a nurse. All of my adult life, I have engaged in a wide range of activist work around a multitude of economic and social justice campaigns, but FIGHT has offered me the chance to really apply those values while simultaneously providing direct services to people.

  • Tiffany Thompson

    Tiffany Thompson, Y-HEP

    To be honest, Y-HEP was my dream job. My commitment to working to youth prevention is part of my existence and I am honored to be part of the team. I have always felt that FIGHT’s Youth Health Empowerment Project has done an amazing job of being that support with the harm reduction model for at-risk you in Philly, whether they are homeless, hopeless, or just in need of a resource. I joined the FIGHT team because I did not want to just praise Y-HEP for progressive work, but also be part of the solution.

  • ValSowell_Large

    Val Sowell, Education

    I was looking to build a career in HIV services, and FIGHT offered an appealing and unique mix of HIV treatment education, clinical care and research, supportive services, and access to technology.