FIGHT

Philadelphia FIGHT Receives $250,000 Grant to Support FIGHT Pediatrics and to Expand Capacity at FIGHT’s Broad Street Love Clinic

Thanks to a grant from the Jerome B. Miller Family Foundation, Philadelphia FIGHT will be doubling the capacity of its clinic at Broad Street Love (formerly Broad Street Ministry), a social services organization serving people experiencing deep poverty, hunger, and housing insecurity. Kevin Lagor, CRNP, the clinic’s Associate Medical Director, explains, “With our open access…

Philadelphia FIGHT names José Benitez as CEO

Philadelphia FIGHT’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce they have selected José Benitez, MSW, FCPP as our new Chief Executive Officer. Benitez will assume his duties on November 4, 2024. Benitez, currently serving as Director of Operations at FIGHT, will build upon the influential work of retiring CEO Jane Shull, who, over the past…

The Lax Center Welcomes Dr. Sam Albanesi

Dr. Sam Albanesi joined Philadelphia FIGHT in August 2024. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Allegheny College, he earned a Master of Arts in Urban Bioethics from Temple University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple. Dr. Albanesi completed his residency in Internal Medicine…

Meet Em Barry

Em Barry, RN joined the staff of the Y-HEP Adolescent and Young Adult Health Center in October, 2023. Em identifies as nonbinary and prefers the pronouns they/them. They earned a B.A. from The College of New Jersey and received their nursing degree from Jefferson College of Nursing. Prior to joining FIGHT, Em worked in a…

Meet Chris Diaz

Christopher Diaz, PA-C joined the Lax Center in September, 2023. He received his B.A. in Music from Fordham University and completed his M.H.S in Physician Assistant studies from Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. After graduation, Chris worked for PrimeCare Medical Corporation, treating patients at Pennsylvania correctional facilities. Before joining FIGHT, Chris worked…

Meet Xander Lopez, Philadelphia FIGHT’s Pride Navigator

The newly-created position of Pride Navigator is based at the Y-HEP Adolescent and Young Adult Health Center and serves patients at all FIGHT Health Centers.

Meet The John Bell Health Center’s Judith Tiga

Judith Tiga, PA-C joined the John Bell Health Center in September, 2023. She earned a B. A from Washington University in St. Louis and completed her Physician Assistant training at University of Iowa Collège of Medicine. Before joining FIGHT, Judith worked at Quality Community Health Care and the Stephen Klein Wellness Center. Judith understands introducing…

Meet the Lax Center’s Kassandra Petit

Kassandra Petit, MS, CRNP joined the Jonathan Lax Center in August, 2023. A Boston native, Kassandra earned a B.S. in Health Sciences from University of Central Florida and an M.S. from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, where she studied Women’s Health Nursing and Adult Gerontology. She is board certified in both specialties. Before…

Meet Dr. Leah Scherzer, Medical Director of FIGHT’s Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center

Dr. Leah Scherzer joined Philadelphia FIGHT in July, 2023 after working for more than ten years as a pediatric outpatient physician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. A graduate of Brown University with a B.A. in Urban Studies, Leah also received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Brown. Dr. Scherzer is a Certified Lactation Counselor…

Jane Shull to retire as Philadelphia FIGHT’s Chief Executive Officer

The Board of Directors of Philadelphia FIGHT announces that Jane Shull, CEO and long-time leader of Philadelphia FIGHT, has made the decision to retire in 2024. Since the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990’s, Shull has worked to develop and grow Philadelphia FIGHT as a comprehensive health services organization.

Thank you to A Book a Day organization

We would like to thank the A Book A Day organization for their generous donation of hundreds of books for our Philadelphia FIGHT Pediatrics and Adolescent Clinics and look forward to our continued partnership with them Thanks to this partnership we have created a library in our waiting room for patients to read while here. Patients…

FIGHT Commemorates World AIDS Day

This year, Philadelphia FIGHT marked World AIDS Day with two signature events. Thanks to everyone who joined us at our annual Prayer Breakfast with Keynote Speaker Rev. Dr. J. Wendell Mapson Jr..This year’s event featured a special tribute to the Lax Center’s Lizzy Schmidt, who recently retired after more than two decades there as a…

Mpox Vaccines

mPox vaccines are currently being offered for existing patients at FIGHT. For more information on getting your mPox vaccine at Philadelphia FIGHT, please call 267-725-0252. For more information about monkeypox and the vaccine, please check out the following website: https://www.phila.gov/programs/monkeypox/

FIGHT Celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility

Today, Philadelphia FIGHT is proud to join the global community in celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV).

COVID-19 Community Testing

Thank you for your support of Philadelphia FIGHT’s COVID-19 Community Testing Program! After more than 2 years and 20,000 tests, our COVID-19 testing program ended on 2/28/2023.

2022 Year in Review

Philadelphia FIGHT had an active 2022. See some of our impact in our annual review.

Holiday Toy Drive and Party 2022

Ready for the holidays? Many people who have had a “lived experience” and their families experience special difficulties during the holiday season. Celebrations and gifts are expensive, but all families want their children to enjoy the wonder of this season. ICJ is conducting a Holiday Party in partnership with Mercy Worldwide and sponsorship by Orijin…

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Our Offices will be closed Thursday & Friday November 24th & 25th

Fall Season at ICJ

In October, the Institute for Community Justice hosted a Resource Fair/Record Cleaning Event at the Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia. In partnership with Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity and the 21st & Norris Street Community Committee, and funded by the Promise Grant, dozens of individuals received criminal record reviews. Twenty-six vendors provided social services, reentry…

Urban Affairs Coalition Breakfast

On Friday, November 18, 2022, members of FIGHT staff attended the Urban Affairs Coalition 53rd Anniversary Breakfast at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event themed, Empowering Dreamers & Doers, was in person for the first time since the pandemic. Congressman Dwight Evans and Mayor Jim Kenney were among the distinguished speakers. Niki Hawkins, Vice President…

Notice of Potential Data Event

On November 30, 2021, Philadelphia FIGHT was the victim of a criminal cyberattack that may impact the confidentiality and privacy of patient information. As soon as we discovered this attack, we disconnected our network from the Internet, stopping the criminal attack, launched an investigation into the nature and scope of the event with the assistance…

National Transgender HIV Testing Day

April 18 is National Transgender HIV Testing Day, a day to recognize the importance of routine HIV testing, status awareness, & continued focus on HIV prevention & treatment for transgender & nonbinary people.

It is National LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week

This week is National LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week, which recognizes the unique and intersectional healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ people, as well as the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.

Focus on Women’s Health

The Women’s Program supports HIV-positive women to heal, grow, maintain health, and achieve their goals. Our Mission The Women’s Program is committed to excellent care for women living with HIV that is comprehensive, team-based, and respectful of diverse cultural backgrounds and spiritual traditions. We partner with women living with HIV to heal, grow, maintain health,…

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