MEDICAL DIRECTOR

“Dr. Danny” (he/him) started as the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR) Medical Director in 2022 after completing his fellowship in Health Policy and Health Services at the University of Pennsylvania as a National Clinician Scholar. He completed his residency in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he completed a Fellowship in Clinical Medical Ethics and Scholarship in Primary Care Leadership. He received his Medical Degree from the Boston University School of Medicine and completed a year-long pre-doctoral fellowship in HIV prevention research at Instituto Oswaldo Cruz in his native Brazil. Throughout his clinical and fellowship training, he worked in community healthcare settings including Howard Brown Health Centers and Philadelphia FIGHT. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology and Science in Society from Wesleyan University. He has published several peer-reviewed papers and editorials on HIV prevention, social determinants of health, and correctional healthcare. He works clinically as a hospitalist at Penn Presbyterian Hospital.

HARM REDUCTION WOUND CARE FIELD NURSE

Rachel (they/any pronouns) joined the SUPHR team in 2022. Since completing UIC's Advanced Generalist Masters program in 2016, they've worked in hospital, clinic, home, and street-based settings in Philadelphia and Chicago, most recently at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia on a med/surg trauma unit. They learned harm reduction nursing providing queer, sexual health, and HIV care at Howard Brown Health and the Broadway Youth Center, including working on the nation's first LGBTQ-specific Sexual Harm Response Team. In 2024 completed LaSalle University's Wound Care Certification program. At SUPHR they provide community- and street-based direct care to people with xylazine-associated wounds in partnership with community organizations, and support distribution of wound care supply kits to people with wounds and organizations that serve them. They also provide training and education to people at all levels of clinical, drug, and harm reduction knowledge in Philadelphia and beyond.  

FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Jennifer.Shinefeld@phila.gov

Jen (she/her) started as a Field Epidemiologist with the SUPHR in 2019. Her undergraduate education is in Public Health and her master’s degree is in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She works to do person-centered research to impact system changes. In her role at SUPHR, Jen conducts qualitative and quantitative research among persons who use drugs and began Philadelphia’s first Drug Checking Surveillance Program. Prior to starting her role in SUPHR, Jen served for 10 years as the Project Coordinator and Co-Principal Investigator on the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System out of the Division of HIV Health. In this role, she conducted bio-behavioral surveillance in populations with a high burden of HIV (persons who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, high-risk heterosexuals, and transgender women of color), collecting data on behavioral risk factors for HIV, HIV testing behaviors, receipt of prevention services, and use of prevention strategies. Before beginning her career with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) she worked as an interviewer and manager at Temple University’s Institute for Survey Research, conducting quantitative and qualitative research. Jen continuously advocates for the rights of people who use drugs and other vulnerable populations across Philadelphia.

PROJECT MANAGER

Shelby (she/her) is the Project Manager for SUPHR’s Medical Program. She manages projects and initiatives that support healthcare providers, community organizations, and City agencies in adopting evidence-based harm reduction clinical practices when engaging people who use drugs. Before joining SUPHR, Shelby worked at the Camden Coalition, managing community engagement and advocacy programs focused on improving healthcare and social services for New Jersey’s Medicaid population. She began her career in youth mental health advocacy at Mental Health Partnerships in Philadelphia. Shelby graduated from Bryn Mawr College with an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Master of Social Service with a concentration in Community Practice, Policy, & Advocacy.