Our providers have extensive experience working with Asians and Pacific Islanders, Latinos, African Americans and other people of color. We also specialize in serving individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, as well as people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Apicha Community Health Center’s mission is to improve the health of our community and to increase access to comprehensive primary care, preventative health services, mental health, and supportive services. We are committed to excellence and to providing culturally competent services that enhance the quality of life. We advocate for and provide a welcoming environment for underserved and vulnerable people, especially Asians and Pacific Islanders, the LGBT Community, and individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Our leadership, our dedicated providers, and our friendly and respectful staff truly care about the health and well being of members of our community. We believe and are guided by the following 10 core values:
Our LGBTQ+ center in New York City provides a variety of culturally competent health care services that include primary care, HIV specialty care, transgender primary care, sexual health services, behavioral health services as well as community education programs that have been designed to be sensitive to your unique cultural needs and lifestyle choices.
We understand and respect that protecting your privacy is absolutely necessary. Our friendly staff has been trained to provide discreet medical care and support to everyone who needs it. We are here to serve you regardless of your race, gender, sexual orientation, English competency, immigration status or ability to pay. We provide services to anyone who walks through our clinic doors.
You can visit our clinic located in lower Manhattan at 400 Broadway by using our side lobby entrance off of Walker Street and entering the clinic lobby by the door to the left. When you enter the lobby, you will be greeted by our team of friendly, respectful, and multilingual staff who will provide all the support and guidance you need to stay healthy and improve your overall quality of life.
Formerly named Asian and Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Apicha CHC was founded in 1989 to address unmet HIV/AIDS-related needs of Asians and Pacific Islanders in New York City.
Our founders worked with Native American leaders to disaggregate “Asians and Pacific Islanders” and “Native Americans” from an “Other” category in HIV/AIDS surveillance data. Their successful advocacy opened the doors to government and private funding streams that enabled us to build a continuum of HIV/AIDS services, starting with prevention education and outreach to HIV primary care.
In 2009 after two decades of HIV-focused practice, we expanded our nationally-recognized HIV care model to include general primary care. This expansion initially included offering primary care to HIV-negative people who were at high risk for HIV, which then led to the establishment of an LGBT clinic, an STI clinic, and Hepatitis screening, immunization and treatment. In 2011, we launched our Transgender Health Clinic to address the unique healthcare and wellness needs of transgender, gender variant, gender non-conforming, and genderqueer people of color.
Most recently, we began offering high-resolution anoscopy and cervical colposcopy to our patients who are at high risk for anal and cervical cancer. In 2012 we became a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHC-LA) and in August 2015, we became a full-fledged Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Paul Chambliss, MD - Primary Care Provider (he/him)
Dr. Paul Chambliss has over 20 years of experience as a primary care provider, with an emphasis on serving patients living with and affected by HIV and the LGBTQ+ community. Dr. Chambliss began his medical career after graduating from the University of New Mexico's School of Medicine. He then completed his residency at St. Luke's- Roosevelt Hospital Center, where he then continued to serve LGBTQ+ patients and people living with HIV/AIDS in New York City at various medical practices and community health centers.
In addition to his extensive medical experience, Dr. Chambliss also holds a Masters in Public Health in Biostatistics from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Since 2009, he has served as a preceptor for medical students from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, teaching basic history taking and physical examination skills. Over the years, Dr. Chambliss has published a number of research studies, primarily focusing on HIV treatment and antiretroviral therapy amongst HIV-positive individuals.
Sabina Makhdomi, Nurse Practitioner (she/her)
Sabina Makhdomi is a Family Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience. In her role of primary care provider, Sabina is passionate about improving the health of her patients. She believes in an individualized approach to health and understands the needs of the patients she treats. Sabina specializes in women's health and is passionate about working with a mission-driven organization, like Apicha CHC, addressing health disparities affecting the LGBTQ+ community. She is fluent in both Spanish and English.
Theodore Miller, Nurse Practitioner (he/him)
Theodore Miller is a Family Nurse Practitioner with clinical experience in Family Medicine, HIV, Hepatitis, Women's Health, and LGBT Health Care. He graduated from Yale with a Masters of Science in Nursing. He is accredited as an American Academy of HIV Medicine Specialist and Board Certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). He has published articles in multiple medical journals on the treatment of HIV, Hepatitis C, and Psychiatric Issues related to HIV/AIDS
Susanne Rendeiro, FNP - Associate Director of Medicine (she/her)
A medical professional with extensive experience serving LGBT patients and people living with HIV infection, Susanne Rendeiro provides primary care and specializes in Family Practice and HIV/AIDS. Her experiences include serving as a Family Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Manager for HIV Primary Care Services at Greenwich House, Family Nurse Practitioner at Betances Health Center and Field Nurse at Isabella Geriatric Center. She holds a Master of Science (Nursing) from Pace University Family Nurse Practitioner Program and a Bachelor of Science (Nursing from Rutgers University, College of Nursing. In November 2016, Susanne received a promotion to Apicha CHC Clinical Director.
Raymund Sison, MD - Director of Medicine (he/him)
Dr. Raymund Sison hails from the Philippines and pursued his education at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, then moved to the U.S. for further training. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency and Infectious Disease Fellowship at the Seton Hall University School of Graduate Medical Education at Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, N.J. He has developed life-long advocacy for HIV patient care and prevention from his clinical research experience and will continue this at Apicha CHC.
Jun Matsuyoshi, LCSW - Director of Mental Health Services (she/her)
Since 2010, Jun Matsuyoshi has served as Director of Behavioral Health Services. She coordinates psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention services, and counseling for all patients at Apicha Community Health Center. She is a graduate of NYU with a Master of Social Work and brings with her over twenty years of experience providing mental health counseling for Public Health Solutions, Project Hospitality, Montefiore Hospital and Health and Hospital Corporation. Her dedication to the communities we serve is evidenced in her prior work experience and membership on the Board of Directors for Apicha CHC from 1994-2004.
Christina Clarke, LCSW - Clinic Social Worker (she/her)
Christina Clarke is a Licensed Clinic Social Worker. She received her Master of Social Work at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. She has been working as a social worker for nearly a decade.
Dr. Jesse Barrett, DDS
Dr. Jesse Barrett earned his Doctor in Dental Surgery from Columbia University and has been practicing since 2012. He has been involved with Somos Amigos Medical Missions in Santiago, Dominion Republic since 2011 and is the faculty Advisor for iDENTity Club at Columbia University. Dr. Barrett also sits on the Clinical Care Committee at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and is a member of the National Network for Oral Health Professionals. He is and remains passionate about serving the needs of underserved communities.
Sunita Aryal (Ojha), MD - Pediatrician (she/her)
Dr. Sunita Aryal (Ojha) is a board-certified pediatrician with over 20 years of experience. She has been affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Clara Maass Medical Center and St. Joseph's University Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Rajshahi Medical College, Bangladesh in 2000. In her role of primary care provider, Dr. Aryal is passionate about improving the health of her patients. She believes in an individualized approach to health and understands the needs of the patients she treats.
Lakshmi Biradavolu, MD - Pediatrician (she/her)
Dr. Lakshmi Biradavolu is a pediatrician with over 50 years of experience in the medical field. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY, and at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. She has worked at various hospitals and clinics across New York State and has worked with children of all ages
Alan Lee, RD, CDE - Registered Dietitian
Alan serves as a Registered Dietitian at Apicha Community Health Center. He specializes in developing nutrition programs.
Therese R. Rodriguez - Chief Executive Officer
Therese R. Rodriguez has been at the helm of Apicha Community Health Center‘s management since 1997. She led the development of multiple initiatives including the establishment of Apicha CHC‘s culturally competent one-stop HIV care model, and the most recent transformation of Apicha CHC from an AIDS Service Organization into a Community Health Center. She is a long-time advocate of civil rights and health and social services for Asian and Pacific Islanders, especially those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Therese was born and raised in the Philippines where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Business Administration degree from St. Theresa’s College.
Yumiko Sano - Chief Program and Data Operations Officer, LMSW
As Apicha CHC’s CPO, Ms. Sano is responsible for the daily operation of the agency’s non-clinic programs. Ms. Sano received her MSSW from Columbia University’s School of Social Work. She joined Apicha CHC in 1994 as a volunteer and was hired as a bilingual case manager in 1997. She was progressively promoted and became the Director of Programs in 2000, and CPO in September 2016. She was appointed to the Compliance Officer position in 2017. Ms. Sano has been managing over ten federal, state and city contracts and grants, including the Health Resources Service Administration’s 330 grant and Ryan White Part C Early Intervention Program. She developed the data quality assurance system for several government funding required data collection systems, including NYS Uniform Report System and AIDS Reporting System (AIRS). Ms. Sano also currently serves as Apicha CHC’s Compliance Officer.
Gertrudes Pajaron - Chief of Business Strategies and Development Officer
Gertrudes Pajaron plans and directs activities related to resource development and policy/advocacy. Since joining Apicha CHC in 2003, she has been part of the management team that worked to implement Apicha CHC‘s one-stop HIV care model. She also has been a key player in the planning of Apicha Community Health Center‘s transformation into a patient-centered medical home. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Brooklyn College, Department of Theater, City University of New York. She has extensive experience in advocacy to promote civil rights and the arts, as a community organizer and journalist.
Ira Rothblut - Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Rothblut spent ten years with the Healthcare Services Group of Goldstein Golub Kessler, LLP, and twelve years with IJR Consulting Corp. His clients were predominantly community/migrant health centers and also included homeless programs, HIV programs, educational institutions, social service organizations, prepaid health service plans, and other nonprofit corporations. Mr. Rothblut has a track record of success in all-source revenue maximization for his clients. His in-depth knowledge of day-to-day health center processes, combined with his financial industry experience, has enabled him to improve his clients’ balance sheets, as well as their overall operations.
Raymund Sison, MD - Director of Medicine
Dr. Raymund Sison hails from the Philippines and pursued his education at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, then moved to the U.S. for further training. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency and Infectious Disease Fellowship at the Seton Hall University School of Graduate Medical Education at Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, N.J. He has developed life-long advocacy for HIV patient care and prevention from his clinical research experience and will continue this at Apicha CHC.
Mihaela Mihai - Senior Director of Administration and Clinic Operations
Mihaela Mihai joined Apicha in 2008 as the Clinic Coordinator before becoming Director of Administration. Her involvement with HIV health care began in Romania in 1995 while volunteering in a hospice center for children dying of AIDS. Mihaela holds a Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Management from New York University and is currently an MBA candidate at St. John’s University.
Louis Madigan - Board Chair
Li Hung Lin - Vice Chair
Andrew Rogers - Treasurer
Flora Ferng - Secretary
Jacob Chen - Board Member
Mario De Leon - Board Member
Anthony Feliciano - Board Member
Lydia Isaac - Board Member
Charles King - Board Member
James Luisi - Board Member
Andrew Rogers - Board Member
Nathaly Rubio-Torio - Board Member
Maria Velazquez - Board Member
York Yu - Board Member
Therese Rodriguez - Non-Voting, Ex Officio Director (CEO)
© 2022 Apicha Community Health Center, All Rights Reserved
400 Broadway New York, NY 10013
82-11 37th Avenue,
Jackson Heights-Queens, NY 11372