May 4, 2007
AMERICAN DREAMER
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Dr. Anu Menon: medical director of Housing Works' Women's Health Center |
We're pleased to announce that Housing Works has hired Dr. Anu Menon as the medical director of Housing Works' Women's Health Center (WHC), which opens late next month at 57 Willoughby Street in Brooklyn. The three-million-dollar, 11,000-sqaure-foot facility will provide a comprehensive, holistic array of health and empowerment services tailored to the needs of women with HIV. "It will take a lot of persistence and dedication," says Menon, "but the WHC will work hard to earn the trust of clients and help them to be healthy, in all senses of the word."
Currently an infectious diseases physician at the University of Arkansas, Menon trained at Tulane in New Orleans and did short tours of duty at HIV clinics in Guatemala and India. Menon's Tulane experience was right on target for her new job: She worked at an HIV clinic that served thousands of people of color, many of whom where homeless and struggling with substance abuse. Menon is particularly excited about Housing Works' ability to provide so many interrelated services. "Clients can get everything done in one place. That's fantastic and innovative," she says.
The WHC is built on the same model as Housing Works' Adult Day Health Centers, and will offer primary care, dental care, mental health care, a transgender program and numerous other services. But it will also feature women-oriented initiatives such as childcare, domestic violence workshops, and a multipurpose gym.
Menon says she is driven to work with underserved communities — the WHC is the first center of its kind in New York State — because she has lived the American dream. "My parents came to the U.S. years ago from India, and even though we were middle class, coming here gave us so many opportunities," she says. "Ever since I was young, I've thought, 'If I get where I want to get, it's my obligation to give back and make an impact.'"
Positions still open
Housing Works is hoping other professionals of Menon's caliber feel a similar impulse. We are looking to fill nearly a dozen positions, including Executive Director. Here is the list of open positions:
Executive Director (LMSW/LCSW, MPA or MPH)
Clinical Director (LCSW/MSW)
Substance Use Specialist (LMSW or CASAC)
Clinical Social Worker (MSW/LMSW)
Registered Nurse
Nurse Practitioners
Nutritionist P/T
Psychiatric NP
Housing Works offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and is an equal-opportunity employer that encourages women of color, HIV-positive people and LGBTQ people to apply. Please e-mail your resume with salary requirements to healthcare@housingworks.org.
The WHC is also already accepting referrals and actively reaching out to the women's and health care communities to find out how to best serve women living with HIV and AIDS. If you want more information on the WHC or how to get involved, contact Michelle Kalski at 347-473-7408 or m.kalski@housingworks.org.
And stay tuned for more info on these upcoming Women's Health Center events:
- June 15, 3pm to 5pm: community-based organization open house
- June 21, 6pm to 8pm: art show at Housing Works Bookstore Café (126 Crosby St.) featuring artwork by HIV-positive women and other artists around the theme of "HIV-positive women and healing"
- June 29: Ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring local and state politicians, friends, supporters and organizations from all five boroughs