Based on data from 2023-24, roughly 23% of New Yorkers aged 21 or older reported cannabis use in the past 12 months. Although men generally have a higher prevalence of use than women, recent studies show a narrowing gap as female consumption rises. Despite this trend, research is sorely lacking on the impact of cannabis use on pregnancy, birth outcomes and overall health. Many advisory panels and organizations advise against the use of cannabis during pregnancy, but there are numerous reasons pregnant people choose to use.

On today’s episode, we’ll talk through the evidence and provide best practices for caring for pregnant persons who use cannabis.  Related Content: 

Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2026 took place from February 22 to 25 in Denver, Colorado. CROI is an annual scientific meeting devoted to the understanding, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS and the opportunistic infections associated with AIDS. Thousands of leading researchers and clinicians from around the world convene in each year for the Conference.

On this episode, Antonio Urbina, MD, Medical Director for CEI’s HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence, reflects on this year’s conference and shares his highlights about exciting developments in the world of HIV prevention and treatment.  Related Content:

Host Dr. Erica Bostick from the University of Rochester Medical Center Division of Adolescent Medicine chats with Dr. Stacy Sun, a double board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology and complex family planning at the University of Rochester, about misconceptions they hear from patients about contraception. Should patients get their hormone levels checked before starting a birth control method? What is emergency contraception and how does it work? Is it safe to use contraception to suppress the menstrual cycle? What do recent studies show about the Depo-Provera shot and the risk of meningioma? Listen to this episode to hear all about these common questions and more, and to get real examples of counseling tips from Dr. Bostick and Dr. Sun! Related Content: 

Effective February 19, 2026, New York State law permits clinicians to dispense up to 72 hours (equivalent to a 3-day supply) of controlled substances, such as methadone and buprenorphine, for the management of opioid withdrawal while arranging referral and linkage to care for persons with opioid use disorder, as authorized by federal regulations (specifically, the Code of Federal Regulations or CFR number 1306.07). The federal regulations were updated in August 2023, and New York State law is just now catching up. We informally refer to the update as “The 72-Hour Rule.”

Featuring Dr. Linda Wang, this episode reviews what this update means for New York State and how clinicians and healthcare administrators can think about its implementation.

Are you implementing “The 72-Hour Rule” in clinical practice in New York State? We want to hear from you! Please reach out to share your experience: [email protected]. Related Content: 

In this episode of the Conversations with CEI, infectious disease specialist Dr. Steven Fine delves into groundbreaking advancements in the treatment of urogenital gonorrhea. The episode highlights the FDA's December 2025 approval of two innovative oral therapies that mark a significant step forward in combating this prevalent sexually transmitted infection.

Dr. Fine discusses the first of these treatments, Zoliflodacin (Nuzolvence), a novel medication specifically developed for urogenital gonorrhea. Administered as a single oral dose, it offers patients a convenient and effective option. The second treatment, Gepotidacin (Blujepa), is a versatile drug initially approved in March 2025 for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Now, it has been authorized for urogenital gonorrhea treatment, requiring two oral doses for optimal efficacy.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Fine provides insights into the clinical trials, mechanisms of action, and potential impact of these therapies on public health. He also emphasizes the importance of addressing antibiotic resistance in gonorrhea and how these new treatments may help mitigate this growing concern.

For more information, listeners can refer to the FDA's official announcement and other resources provided below.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about these exciting developments and their implications for the future of infectious disease treatment. Related Content: 

On June 18, 2025, the FDA approved Yeztugo, the brand name for subcutaneous lenacapavir, a prescription medication used for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV.  Subcutaneous lenacapavir is administered twice a year (every six months) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents at risk. With patients only needing lenacapavir twice a year for HIV prevention, the field has been optimistic about the potential for lenacapavir to reduce barriers and improve access to PrEP. Since we are still early in the rollout subcutaneous lenacapavir, many providers have questions about how to offer it to their patients—from workflow to billing to managing potential side effects and drug-drug interactions.

On this episode, Antonio Urbina, MD, Medical Director for CEI’s HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence, speaks with Alex Danforth, PharmD. Alex Danforth is a clinical pharmacist in Rochester, NY.  She practices at Trillium Health, a federally qualified health center, where she works with patients and providers to help manage medications and optimize care.  Alex currently provides clinical leadership for HIV treatment and prevention programs. 

Drs. Urbina and Danforth talk about the latest New York State Clinical Guidelines for PrEP, which were updated on October 16th. The new guidelines provide important updates, including subcutaneous lenacapavir. They discuss important considerations for initiating patients on lenacapavir as well as some early lessons learned from implementing lenacapavir in their Rochester- and New York City-based clinics. Related Content: 

This month, host Dr. Marguerite Urban chats with Dr. Jason Zucker, an adult and pediatric infectious diseases physician at Columbia University and the assistant medical director of the New York City HIV/STI Prevention Training Center, about an emerging fungal infection, Trichophyton mentagrophytes Genotype VII, also known as TMVII. Curious about what clinicians should know about TMVII? Listen now to learn more! Related Content:

On September 9th, CEI hosted its first in-person conference dedicated to hepatitis C and drug user health. A group of New York State-based clinicians met in Catskill for a full day agenda focused on (1) integrating wellness into clinical practice as a way to improve patient care and outcomes, and (2) innovative decision-making frameworks to help clinicians navigate complex scenarios in the absence of strong formal evidence, like clinical guidelines and peer reviewed studies.

This episode of “Conversations with CEI” features conference planner and facilitator Taylor Edelmann – an educator and consultant working at the intersection of LGBTQIA+ health, drug user health and harm reduction – sharing his experience and insights about the day. Taylor currently oversees the Lighthouse Learning Collective at the National Harm Reduction Coalition, a program focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ harm reductionists and people who use drugs and engage in sex work. As one of the first openly transgender NCAA athletes, Taylor brings a deeply personal lens to his work advocating for gender-affirming care. He regularly provides clinical education and technical assistance to providers across the country, including Yale University and one of Connecticut’s largest federally qualified health centers, and recently presented at the 2025 Harm Reduction International Conference in Bogotá, Colombia. Taylor is also the co-creator of ChemSex Awareness Week, and the lead author of Gender Affirming Harm Reduction: A Toolkit for Syringe Service Programs, the first resource of its kind developed specifically for social service providers in harm reduction settings.  Related Content: 

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In this episode of Conversations with CEI, Dr. Steven Fine unpacks some of the latest developments and research presented at the 2025 International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science, held in Kigali, Rwanda. From innovative treatment strategies to advancements in prevention and global health equity, Dr. Fine highlights the pivotal discussions and groundbreaking studies that are shaping the future of HIV care. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the strides being made in the fight against HIV and the collaborative efforts driving progress on a global scale. Related Content: 

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