Alain H. Litwin, M.D.

With funding from NIH, CDC, AHRQ, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, New York State Department of Health, New York City Department of Health, and industry, Dr. Alain Litwin’s research is focused on developing and studying models of hepatitis C virus (HCV) care for drug users, and on advocating for increasing access to effective care for HCV-infected patients. Dr. Litwin has worked with government and community organizations on efforts to expand access to HCV treatment and has collaborated on policy statements, clinical guidelines, task forces, strategic plans, and educational curricula with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York State Department of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Litwin is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine, and has been providing medical care to drug users with complex social, psychiatric and medical needs within an integrated primary care and methadone maintenance treatment program for thirteen years. After joining Einstein’s Division of Substance Abuse (DoSA), he helped develop a comprehensive on-site HCV treatment program, including HCV support groups and a peer educator program, to improve medical care of HCV-infected drug users.

Current Investigations

1. Addiction Medicine Physicians and Care for Hepatitis C
2. Viral Hepatitis Integration Models for Injection Drug Users
3. Directly Observed Hepatitis C Treatment in Methadone Clinics
4. Optimizing HCV Screening Practices in Primary Care
5. On-site HCV Treatment Outcomes in Opioid-dependent Patients

Awards

1. National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program Award
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) K23 Career Development Award for "Directly Observed Hepatitis C Treatment in Methadone Clinics"
3. Robert Wood Johnson Physician Faculty Scholar Award for "Directly Observed HCV Treatment in HIV/HCV-Infected Methadone Patients"