Faculty / Staff

Dr. Joyce K. Anastasi, PhD, DrNP, FAAN, LAc Independence Foundation Endowed Professor & Founding Director, Special Studies in Symptom Mangement

Dr. Joyce K. Anastasi is the founding director of the Division of Special Studies in Symptom Management at New York University. She is one of the country's leading clinical scientists in the area of symptom management. Dr. Anastasi was formerly the Helen F. Pettit Endowed Professor at Columbia University and Director of the Center for AIDS Research and Integrative Therapies in Primary Care Program. Further, she is an outstanding teacher and has received recognition and acclaim through her receipt of the Columbia University Presidential Teaching Award.
Dr. Anastasi served on the Advisory Board for the Institute of Medicines (IOM) report on The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by the American Public. She is the principal investigator of several clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her service on numerous scientific advisory panels is a mark of validation of her strength as a researcher. Dr. Anastasi is a licensed acupuncturist and a Diplomate from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Dr. Anastasi authored and developed the Herbs, Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements graduate program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

She has published extensively in the area of symptom management using non-invasive interventions and has received numerous awards for her contributions and expertise in acupuncture methodology and symptom management research.

New NIH Award. Dr. Anastasi has been awarded a five-year grant (R01-NR017917) for an investigator initiated randomized controlled clinical trial titled, A Symptom Management Efficacy Study to Reduce Distal Neuropathic Pain. Despite the prevalence of of distal sensory peripheral (DSP) neuropathy among persons living with HIV (PLWH) there are no FDA approved agents to treat DSP pain in HIV and agents tested in randomized clinical trials (RCT) fail to show superiority to placebo. Effective interventions are needed to help PLWH manage DSP pain. This study tests the efficacy of a novel therapeutic approach for chronic DSP pain in PLWH. (see Research Portfolio section for more information)

Dr. Bernadette Capili, PhD. NP-C Senior Research Scientist, Special Studies in Symptom Management

Dr. Bernadette Capili’s area of research focuses on cardiovascular disease prevention and healthy weight management. Dr. Capili has examined the effects of diet on the metabolic complications of HIV and metabolic markers to predict cardiovascular disease in HIV. Her research also includes investigating traditional methods of healing such as herbal therapies and acupuncture to reduce cardiovascular risk in HIV. As a clinical researcher and clinician, Dr. Capili has an emphasis on identifying patient related outcomes in all of her studies to determine the efficacy of various treatment modalities. Her goal is to identify and to test outcome measures, which can be translated across clinical settings and healthcare disciplines.

Dr. Capili has a track record of federal funding from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Capili is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Nicholas Rango HIV Primary Care Fellowship, sponsored by the New York States AIDS Institutes, National Research Service Award Individual Pre-doctoral Fellowship, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Columbia University Dean’s Distinguished Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, Herbert Irving Research Fellows Program, sponsored by the Clinical Translation Science Award/NIH/National Center Research Resources, and the Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease program, sponsored by the American Heart Association.

Dr. Capili was nominated and appointed to serve as an advisory member for the American Heart Association/HIV Academy of Medicine on HIV and Cardiovascular Disease. She is also a reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed journals and scientific reviewer for federal agencies. Additionally, her work has received recognition from the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care as the recipient of the “Outstanding Article of the Year Award” and “Research Article of the Year Award.”

Staff

Ellie Gonzalez, Research Coordinator at Special Studies in Symptom Management.

Eric Li. Research Assistant at the Special Studies in Symptom Management. Mr. Li is a NYU Meyers Scholar.

Rachelle Serrano Carino, BS, RN, Former Research Assistant at the Special Studies in Symptom Management. Ms. Carino graduated Suma Cum Laude from Saint Francis College with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. She completed a Summer research program at the Louis Calder Center at Fordham University. She was involved in developing a botanical tick repellent.
Tony Yu. Research Assistant at Special Studies in Symptom Management. Mr. Yu is completing his studies in finance and accounting at NYU Stern Business School.