CHERISH Leadership Meeting Brings Together Experts in Health Economics and Mental Health Advocacy
The Center for Health Economics of Treatment Interventions for Substance Use Disorder, HCV, and HIV (CHERISH) convened its annual December leadership meeting at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
The event brought together leaders in health economics and public health, focusing on advancing policies and practices that improve care for vulnerable populations.
A Center of Excellence for Health Economics
CHERISH, a multi-institutional Center of Excellence funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is dedicated to conducting and disseminating health economic research. The center focuses on healthcare utilization, outcomes, and health-related behaviors to inform treatment policies for substance use disorders (SUDs), HCV, and HIV care.
From left back row: Zachary Meisel (University of Pennsylvania – Director, Dissemination & Policy Core), Bruce Schackman (Weill Cornell Medical College – Director, CHERISH), Ali Jalali (Weill Cornell Medical College), Brandon Aden (Weill Cornell Medical College – Director, Pilot Grant and Training), James Shultz (University of Miami), Benjamin Linas (Boston Medical Center – Director, Population Data & Modeling Core), Jocelyn Vititow (Boston Medical Center), Sean Murphy (Weill Cornell Medical College – Director, CHERISH Consultation Service), Jared Leffe (Weill Cornell Medical College – Administrative Core), Bonnie Tse (Weill Cornell Medical College), Judge Steve Leifman (Associate Administrative Judge for the Miami-Dade County Court – Criminal Division), Erminia Fardone (University of Miami), Kathryn McCollister (University of Miami - Director, Methodology Core).
The December meeting featured two components: a morning leadership session and an afternoon research seminar. During the leadership portion, participants reviewed the center’s five core areas: Dissemination and Policy, Population Data and Modeling, Pilot Grant and Training, Methodology, and Administration.
Kathryn McCollister, Ph.D., professor and director of the Division of Health Services Research and Policy, leads the Methodology Core, which supports researchers of all levels in conducting economic evaluations of SUDs and related health concerns. By conducting cost-effectiveness analyses and utilizing costing tools, the Core enhances the implementation and delivery of interventions at individual, community, and system levels.
Fostering Change Through Evidence-Based Advocacy
The afternoon seminar featured The Honorable Judge Steve Leifman, associate administrative Judge for the Criminal Division of the Miami-Dade County Court and a leading advocate for mental health and criminal justice reform.
The Honorable Judge Steve Leifman.
Judge Leifman presented “Ending the Criminalization of Mental Illness,” offering an in-depth look at how public health-focused strategies can replace corrective approaches for individuals with mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders. He highlighted the transformative work of the Miami Center for Mental Health Recovery (MCMHR), emphasizing as a model for integrating compassionate, community-based care into mental health treatment.
Drawing inspiration from the renowned Trieste Community Mental Health System in Italy, Judge Leifman emphasized the value of evidence-based reforms. Established in the 1970s under the leadership of Dr. Franco Basaglia, the Trieste system replaced institutionalization with community-based services, including 24-hour mental health centers and a psychiatric unit within a general hospital.
This system remains a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Mental Health and has been a global benchmark for deinstitutionalized care.
By drawing parallels between MCMHR and Trieste, Judge Leifman advocated for a shift from punitive models to rehabilitation and recovery. He urged bold actions to address systemic barriers, break cycles of criminalization, and improve outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions.
The December CHERISH meeting remains a venue for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. By merging health economic research with practical policy recommendations, CHERISH strengthens its dedication to enhancing healthcare access and outcomes for populations impacted by SUDs, HCV, HIV, and mental health issues.
Written by Deycha Torres Hernández, published on December 17, 2024.
