Our Mission

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center provides sensitive, quality health care and related services primarily to New York's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities -- in all their diversity -- regardless of ability to pay. To further this mission, Callen-Lorde promotes health education and wellness and advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender health issues.

Our History

Callen-Lorde's grassroots heritage dates back over 40 years to the St. Mark's Community Clinic and the Gay Men's Health Project, two volunteer-based clinics that provided screening and treatment for sexually-transmitted diseases. These clinics merged in 1983 to form Community Health Project, a mostly volunteer-staffed, episodic care program housing the nation's first community-based HIV clinic.

Michael Callen (1955 - 1993) Michael Callen was born in Rising Sun, Indiana, and began his career as a successful composer and singer. In 1982, he was diagnosed with AIDS (then known as Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) and quickly became a leader in the response to the growing epidemic. In 1985, he became a founding member of the People with AIDS Coalition, the first organization to spring from the AIDS Self-Empowerment movement. As a leading authority in the community, Michael was called to testify before the President’s Commission on AIDS and both houses of the United States Congress. In 1990, Michael chronicled the stories of long-term survivors in his book Surviving AIDS. With Peter Allen, he composed “Love Don’t Need a Reason,” and he also founded the Flirtations, an a cappella singing group. Michael continued his work in the community and in music until his death at age 38. He is survived by his partner, Richard Dworkin.

Audre Lorde (1934 - 1992) The daughter of Grenadian immigrants, Audre Lorde was born in New York City and wrote her first poem at age twelve. In the 1950’s while at Hunter College, Audre worked as a librarian and educator and became a leader in the early lesbian activist community in Greenwich Village. Her poetry was published regularly throughout the 1960s and 70s and gained wide recognition with the publication of her book The Cancer Journals in 1980, which chronicled her experience with breast cancer. In this groundbreaking work, she examined her own fears, anger, and ultimately, her strength and hope. Her published writings include nine volumes of poetry and five books of prose. Audre was named New York State’s Poet Laureate in 1991 by Governor Mario Cuomo, a post she retained until her death at age 58, after a 14-year struggle with breast cancer. She is survived by her children, Elizabeth and Jonathan, and her partner, Dr. Gloria Joseph.

Annual report

Click here to view Callen-Lorde's IRS Form 990.
Click here for our most recent annual report.

Board of Directors

Claudia Slacik, Co-chair
JPMorgan Chase Treasury & Securities Services
Chief Executive Officer

Michael Bayer, Co-chair
Cohn & Wolfe
Executive Vice President

Elisabeth R. Benjamin, MSPH, JD
Community Service Society
Vice President of Health Initiatives

Krisczar Bungay, MD
Physician

Daniel S. Dokos, JD
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Partner

Justus Eisfeld
GATE - Global Advocates for Trans Equality
Co-director

Laura A. Jacobs, LCSW
Family Services of Westchester
Mental Health Clinician

Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins, MD
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center
Assistant Professor

Archley J. Prudent
Diamond Power Enterprises
Director of Marketing Operations

Carlos Riobo, Ph.D.
The City College of New York and The Graduate Center- CUNY
Professor and Bildner Center Fellow

David Sandman, PhD
New York State Health Foundation
Senior Vice President

Karen Sauvigne
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Director of Special Projects, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine

Tom Viola
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
Executive Director

Senior Staff

Wendy Stark
Executive Director

Jay Laudato
Director of Special Projects

Anita Radix, MD
Director of Research and Education

Matt Chin
Director of Operations

Jerry Algozer
Director of Development and Communications

Andy Fliegel
Director of Human Resources

Gal Mayer, MD
Medical Director

Meet Our Providers