The Floating Hospital in action

Advocating for HIV awareness

The Floating Hospital produced its first weeklong community programming dedicated to HIV screening, awareness and education. Conducted at the Community Outreach Center from Feb. 22-26, the event included free screenings, educational activities, including knowledge games styled after “Spin the Wheel and “Jeopardy,” online trivia postings, printed informational handouts, and a panel moderated by director of behavioral health Dr. lgda Martinez. “The driving reason for the event was to assist in destigmatizing HIV testing and promote testing as a routine health screening,” said community outreach director Cynthia Davis, noting that “hidden populations” such as those the clinic serves are often unaware of available testing for HIV and other transmissible illnesses.”

A shot in the arm

Currents News, a Queens local news outlet, reported on The Floating Hospital’s community vaccination event, which launched on Feb. 9. Conducted in partnership with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, the program will reach older residents for as long as supplies and demand lasts. So far, 165 senior adults received Covid-19 vaccinations at our Long Island City clinic, with plans to inoculate 200 people. Chief Medical Officer Shani Andre was quoted as calling the effort “relief on the horizon.”

Inside edition

Next month, The Floating Hospital will launch a series of leadership talks that take supporters behind the scenes of our dynamic practice. First up for donors: an exclusive virtual preview of our new flagship clinic with Dr. Shani Andre, and President Sean Granahan. Located just a few blocks from our current clinic, the new space-built before the coronavirus pandemic-was presciently designed for post-pandemic healthcare, a topic that is already trending in the industry.