Concurrent Session 3C: Nurses at the Heart of Syndemic Care for People Who Use Drugs
Tracks
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| Thursday, October 8, 2026 |
| 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM |
| Tycho + Kepler |
Details
This session will highlight the critical role of nurses in delivering syndemic care for people who use drugs, addressing overlapping health and social challenges such as hepatitis C, HIV, mental health, substance use, and social determinants of health. Through short presentations and interactive discussion, the session will showcase nurse-led models of integrated, non-siloed care across different specialties.
The session aims to:
• Share practical examples of nurse-led syndemic models of care.
• Explore challenges and opportunities in delivering syndemic/integrated care.
• Facilitate peer learning and problem-solving among nurses.
• Discuss approaches to measuring the effectiveness and impact of syndemic/integrated care models
Agenda and format 5-minute introduction
3-4 × 5-minute presentations showcasing nurse-led syndemic models of care across different specialties
Interactive audience engagement using live polling (Mentimeter)
Facilitated discussion where presenters pose questions or challenges to the audience (e.g. barriers to integrated care, unresolved challenges, opportunities for improvement)
Audience sharing of examples of effective non-siloed service models
Group discussion on measuring effectiveness and impact of syndemic approaches and integrated care models
5-minute conclusion and key takeaways
Speaker
Mrs Nicki Palmer
Hepatitis C Project Nurse
NHS Public Health Wales
Opening Remarks
11:15 AM - 11:20 AMBiography
Ms Michelle Pittman
Nurse Practitioner
RECAP Health Services & Horizon Health
Opening Remarks
11:15 AM - 11:20 AMBiography
Michelle Pittman is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in addiction medicine, mental health, Hepatitis C, and sexual health. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Nursing from Athabasca University. Michelle works as an Addictions and Mental Health NP at RECAP Health Services in Fredericton, where she leads a nurse-led Hepatitis C treatment program that has achieved WHO elimination targets within the injectable opiate agonist therapy (iOAT) population. She is active in provincial, national, and international advocacy and knowledge translation. Michelle serves on the steering committee with Action Hepatitis Canada, the Nurses’ Committee with INHSU, executive member Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick, board member of CATIE and the Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses. Outside of work, Michelle is a proud wife and mother to an adventurous five-year-old.
MA Barbara Janikova
Project Coordinator
Spolecnost Podane Ruce, Czechia
TBC
11:20 AM - 11:25 AMBiography
Miss Tina Zackova
Nurse
Podane Ruce
TBC
11:20 AM - 11:25 AMBiography
Ms Marguerite Beiser
Director of HCV Services
Boston Health Care For The Homeless Program
Every pathway, every patient: Nurse-led care drives HCV elimination across shelter, street and clinic
11:25 AM - 11:30 AMBiography
Maggie Beiser is an adult nurse practitioner at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, where she provides primary and specialized HIV, HCV, addiction, and gender care for people experiencing homelessness and/or using drugs. She founded the BHCHP HCV treatment program and leads its educational, research, and advocacy efforts. Find me on BlueSky @maggiebeiser
Mr. Ryan Gould
Registered Nurse
Boston Healthcare For The Homeless Program
Every pathway, every patient: Nurse-led care drives HCV elimination across shelter, street and clinic
11:25 AM - 11:30 AMBiography
Mrs Leah Higgins
Harm Reduction Nurse Prescriber
Rodger Wright Harm Reduction Network
Filling the Gaps: Evolution of a New Zealand Harm Reduction Clinic Beyond Hepatitis C
11:30 AM - 11:35 AMBiography
Leah is an experience harm reduction nurse. She worked for 8 years working in Melbourne at Primary Health Services for people who inject drugs and as an outreach nurse supporting those experiencing homelessness. For the past 10 years, she’s been a vital part of the Rodger Wright Community Clinic, and in 2021, she completed her nurse prescriber course to better serve our community. Leah is passionate about her role, especially when it comes to getting to know the people she meets and witnessing them take control of their health in their own time.
Ms Marguerite Beiser
Director of HCV Services
Boston Health Care For The Homeless Program
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 12:10 PMBiography
Maggie Beiser is an adult nurse practitioner at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, where she provides primary and specialized HIV, HCV, addiction, and gender care for people experiencing homelessness and/or using drugs. She founded the BHCHP HCV treatment program and leads its educational, research, and advocacy efforts. Find me on BlueSky @maggiebeiser
Mr. Ryan Gould
Registered Nurse
Boston Healthcare For The Homeless Program
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 12:10 PMBiography
Mrs Leah Higgins
Harm Reduction Nurse Prescriber
Rodger Wright Harm Reduction Network
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 12:10 PMBiography
Leah is an experience harm reduction nurse. She worked for 8 years working in Melbourne at Primary Health Services for people who inject drugs and as an outreach nurse supporting those experiencing homelessness. For the past 10 years, she’s been a vital part of the Rodger Wright Community Clinic, and in 2021, she completed her nurse prescriber course to better serve our community. Leah is passionate about her role, especially when it comes to getting to know the people she meets and witnessing them take control of their health in their own time.
MA Barbara Janikova
Project Coordinator
Spolecnost Podane Ruce, Czechia
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 12:10 PMBiography
Mrs Nicki Palmer
Hepatitis C Project Nurse
NHS Public Health Wales
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 12:10 PMBiography
Ms Michelle Pittman
Nurse Practitioner
RECAP Health Services & Horizon Health
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 12:10 PMBiography
Michelle Pittman is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in addiction medicine, mental health, Hepatitis C, and sexual health. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Nursing from Athabasca University. Michelle works as an Addictions and Mental Health NP at RECAP Health Services in Fredericton, where she leads a nurse-led Hepatitis C treatment program that has achieved WHO elimination targets within the injectable opiate agonist therapy (iOAT) population. She is active in provincial, national, and international advocacy and knowledge translation. Michelle serves on the steering committee with Action Hepatitis Canada, the Nurses’ Committee with INHSU, executive member Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick, board member of CATIE and the Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses. Outside of work, Michelle is a proud wife and mother to an adventurous five-year-old.
Miss Tina Zackova
Nurse
Podane Ruce
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 12:10 PMBiography
INHSU 2026
Closing remarks
12:10 PM - 12:15 PMBiography
