Board of Directors
Robin Deutsch, President
Robin Deutsch, MD, FACP is a native of Hartford, CT who is a passionate advocate for improving the delivery of care to underserved populations and integrating evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders into primary care and hospital care. She is an agent of culture change through provider education and incorporation of a harm reduction philosophy. She worked for 6 years at Hartford Hospital as Assistant Director of Infectious Disease where she founded an addiction treatment program within an HIV primary care clinic as part of an integrated care model, and was Site Director for Rushford’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. She is currently employed as Associate Medical Director at CHR (Community Health Resources) where she practices primary care and addiction medicine, and oversees an opioid treatment program within several of Connecticut’s correctional facilities. She has a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and is board-certified in Infectious Disease, Addiction Medicine, and Internal Medicine. She has been a supporter of the Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition since 2016, and joined its Board of Directors in 2020.
George Dillon Jr., Vice President
George Dillon Jr. is the Supervising Case Manager for Reentry services for Community Partners in Action, providing services for the reentry populations returning to the community after incarceration and helping guide those previously released. He truly believes all deserve a second chance in life and all can change. With more than 20 years’ experience working with those with substance issues and homelessness, he believes in the harm reduction model helps keep individuals safe on their way to success.
Lisa Silvestri, Secretary
Lisa Silvestri is a Hartford area attorney who has retired as General Counsel to the Hartford Pension Commission. She is currently employed in private practice. Her legal experience has included advocacy for several local nonprofit agencies. Her BA is from the University of Connecticut and JD is from Emory University. She has volunteered for a number of local agencies. She joined the board of CTHRA in 2019.
Jason Ellis, PhD, Treasurer
Dr. Ellis earned his Doctorate of Business and Administration in International Business from Walden University. He has earned an MBA in Management and Strategy from Western Governors University. He also received a BA from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Ellis currently works as a Financial Advisor and has over 9 years of experience in the Finance industry. He is responsible for assisting Families and Business Owners develop financial plans to achieve their Investment, Retirement, and Estate Planning goals. He is a CFP® – CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and holds three other financial designations; CRPC® – Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, AWMA® – Accredited Wealth Management Advisor and AAMS® – Accredited Asset Management Specialist.
Dr. Ellis also serves as an Adjunct Professor, teaching Business Administration and Financial Management courses at the undergrad and graduate levels for a number of universities. He currently resides in the Greater Hartford area of Connecticut.
Stacey Brown, PhD, Director
Stacey Brown, PhD is an Associate Professor and Director of the Applied Practical Experience in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut, School of Medicine. For the past 20 years, she has collaborated with faculty and community partners to develop and implement curriculum promoting students’ understanding of social, economic, and political factors impacting health. Stacey has developed extensive cultural competency, patient advocacy, and behavioral health curriculum with particular emphasis on partnering with community organizations to enhance student education and patient care. Her research explores the impact of structural inequality on the mental and physical health of marginalized groups. Further, Stacey offers her time in service to: Family Life Education, Inc., Amplify Inc., Sport Medical Sciences Academy’s Industry Advisory Board, and the State of Connecticut Commission for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday.
Both personally and professionally, Dr. Brown works toward the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities.
Chris Henegan, Director
Chris Heneghan holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Connecticut and works as an Epidemiologist. He began working in harm reduction as an HIV prevention specialist and outreach worker. He co-founded the Windham Harm Reduction Coalition in Eastern Connecticut where he served as Director of Operations till 2014. His work focuses on harm reduction program development, removing stigma from drug user health services, and infectious disease prevention. He joined the Board of Directors at the Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance in 2014 and currently serves as Board Secretary.
Jennifer Doutre, Director
Jennifer Doutre is a Service Director of Adult Clinical Services at Community Health Resources (CHR), a comprehensive, nonprofit behavioral healthcare agency in Connecticut. She has close to 20 years of experience in behavioral health and addiction services in both outpatient and residential settings. She has served as a leader in implementing evidence-based and best practices in clinical programs including Integrated Health Care and Medication Assisted Treatment for Substance Use Disorders. Jennifer is an experienced trainer and has provided consultation on topics such as Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Crisis Management, and Leadership Training. She is passionate about providing client-centered , harm reduction treatment and looking at systems to decrease barriers for people to get the treatment they need.
Andrew Woods, MSW, VPP, Director
Executive Director of Hartford Communities That Care, Inc.
Senior Advisor, Health Alliance for Violence Intervention
In 1998, Mr. Woods founded Hartford Communities That Care. He is a graduate of Springfield College (B.S) and UCONN School of Social Work (MSW). Mr. Woods is a former Adjunct Professor at Capital Community College in Hartford, CT., former Adjunct Professor at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT. He currently provides training and technical assistance nationally for the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention.
In 1990, he began his career in human services as a drug counselor and mental health therapist until 1998, when he began to develop and implement school and community-based programs geared toward youth development, drug and violence prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery.
In 2004, Mr. Woods established the Hartford Crisis Response Team (HCRT), Connecticut’s first Hospital- Linked Violence Intervention Program, in partnership with Hartford area hospitals.
In 2021, Mr. Woods Chaired the Connecticut Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Advisory Committee charged with producing an assessment and recommendations to lawmakers to consider. This resulted in a 556-page report, including the establishment of a Commission on Community Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention within the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Ana L. Cáceres, APRN, MSN, AAHIV, Director
Ana L. Cáceres is a nurse practitioner with 30 years of clinical experience; 14 years providing primary care services to underserved populations. Over the last 8 years, she has been providing primary care services to persons living with HIV. HIV and substance use disorder are inextricably linked and she is well versed in harm reduction strategies and incorporates these into the education and care she provides. She is currently affiliated with Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, Infectious Disease. She is passionate about creating close relationships with her patients and she believes this fosters trust and improves clinical outcomes.
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