Celebrate Life 2025
December 15, 2025
Philadelphia FIGHT would like to thank all those that Sponsored and supported our 35th Anniversary Gala, especially Representative Malcolm Kenyatta
FIGHT News and Announcements
Congressman Dwight Evans Honored at FIGHT’s Pre-Gala Reception
September 30, 2025
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Pre-Gala reception on September 11 at Woody’s in Midtown Village. This event welcomed our sponsors, table captains, host committee, and patrons to promote the 35th Anniversary Celebrate Life Gala, which will take place on November 22 at Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The happy hour event included…
Caitlin Jaeckel Joins Philadelphia FIGHT as Associate Medical Director at Broad Street Love Clinic
September 30, 2025
Caitlin Jaeckel, PA-C, MHS, AAHIVS, has joined FIGHT’s clinic at Broad Street Love in September. Caitlin holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from James Madison University and a Master of Health Science – Physician Assistant degree from Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. Prior to coming to FIGHT, Caitlin worked at…
Philadelphia FIGHT’s Dr. Jay Kostman Announces his retirement
August 19, 2025
Jay Kostman, MD has announced he will be hanging up his stethoscope for the last time at Philadelphia FIGHT at the end of August. Dr. Kostman will no longer be seeing patients at the John Bell Health Center, but he isn’t retiring from FIGHT altogether. He will continue to serve in his administrative role as…
FIGHT Celebrates Philly Pride 2025!
June 27, 2025
Philadelphia FIGHT joined the festivities at this year’s Pride Festival on June 1st, connecting with communitymembers and celebrating LGBTQ+ pride and visibility. Our team was on-site sharing information about FIGHT’s programs and services, as well as handing out promotional materials for upcoming events. One of the highlights of our table was the interactive game wheel,…
Philadelphia FIGHT’s 2025 HIV Summit Was One for the Books!
June 27, 2025
Thank you to everyone who attended FIGHT’s HIV Education Summit on June 12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. We would like to express our gratitude to our staff members and community partners who helped to plan and organize this event. Special thanks to our Opening Plenary emcee Jeffery Haskins, and our Keynote Speaker, legendary Philadelphia…
Three Philadelphia FIGHT Physicians Named to Philadelphia Magazine’s 2025 Top Doctors List
June 1, 2025
Once again, three of FIGHT’s leading medical providers have been named to Philadelphia Magazine’s annual list of the area’s top doctors. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Karam Mounzer, Dr. Jay Kostman, and Dr. Lisa Knoflicek! Karam Mounzer, MD Karam Mounzer, MD joined Philadelphia FIGHT in 2000. He is the Chief Scientific Officer and Medical…
Ardella’s House
May 29, 2025
Did you know a good job can change a woman’s entire future? Employment is a game-changer—but justice-involved women face tremendous barriers to finding work. That’s why Ardella’s House offers workforce development programs that go far beyond resume writing. We provide: We equip women not just to find jobs—but to build careers and economic independence that empower them for life. We help…
FIGHT Receives $25,000 Donation from Stonewall Sports Philadelphia
May 8, 2025
Philadelphia FIGHT would like to thank Stonewall Sports – Philadelphia for their generous donation of $25,750. Stonewall Philly provides organized recreational sports leagues, tournaments, health, education and social events to the greater Philadelphia diverse LGBTQIA+ community. Stonewall Philly offers kickball, dodgeball, volleyball, billiards, bowling, bocce, trivia, yoga, and a running group. The organization describes itself…
Dr. Ala Stanford to be Honored with the Kyoshi Kuromiya Award at the 2025 HIV Education Summit
May 8, 2025
Ala Stanford, M.D., is a pediatric surgeon, founder of the Black Doctors Consortium and a national leader in health equity, a health care policy advisor and former regional director of the US Department of Health and Human Services of the mid-Atlantic appointed by President Biden. Dr. Stanford is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania…
David Fair Named Keynote Speaker at the 2025 HIV Education Summit
May 8, 2025
David Fair is executive director of Turning Points for Children, which for 190 years has supported Philadelphia children and families in need of help.He has been a lifelong advocate in a variety of areas, including health care reform, AIDS services, children with mental health needs, homelessness, child welfare, and LGBTQ issues. Fair has received over…
Philadelphia FIGHT Receives $250,000 Grant to Support FIGHT Pediatrics and to Expand Capacity at FIGHT’s Broad Street Love Clinic
February 3, 2025
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
October 29, 2024
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
October 9, 2024
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
June 28, 2024
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
June 21, 2024
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 The John Bell Health Center’s Judith Tiga
May 22, 2024
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
May 15, 2024
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…
The Free Tyree Wallace Movement Invites Support for Tyree Wallace’s Upcoming Hearing on November 4, 2024
May 10, 2024
Philadelphia, PA – The Free Tyree Wallace Movement is thrilled to extend an invitation to the citizens of Pennsylvania, supporting organizations and social justice groups to attend and support Tyree Wallace’s upcoming planned hearing on November 4, 2024. This hearing marks a pivotal moment in Tyree’s quest for justice, and we believe that your presence and support…
Meet Dr. Leah Scherzer, Medical Director of FIGHT’s Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center
May 1, 2024
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
April 11, 2024
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
March 11, 2024
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
December 21, 2023
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…