Meet The Team
Dr. Jeffrey Birnbaum
HEAT Program Executive Director
Phone: 718.613.8428
Jeffrey.Birnbaum@downstate.edu
Breanna Watson
HEAT Program Deputy Executive Director
Phone: 718.613.8408
Breanna.Watson@downstate.edu
Sepia Peters
HEAT Program Transgender Services Coordinator
Phone: 718.613.8484
Krystal.Peters@downstate.edu
Terra Aislin
HEAT Program Renaissance Project Coordinator
Phone: 718.221.5157
Terra.Aislin@downstate.edu
Elizabeth Smith
HEAT Program Project Harmony Coordinator
Phone: 718.613.8500
HEAT HEROES
At the HEAT Program, we honor the memory of team members whose presence shaped our work and whose legacy continues to guide us. Their care, conviction, and contributions will always be a part of HEAT’s story.
Ms. Tyisa “Ty” Braithwaite served as the HEAT Program’s nurse from October 2022 until her passing in 2025. Known for her strong presence, clear communication, and deep concern for our clients, she brought honesty and compassion to every encounter. Tyisa also introduced our Secret Santa tradition, a fun and joyful event that will continue to bring warmth to our team each year, now in her honor and remembrance. She was a mother, a daughter, and a steady force in our clinic whose memory remains a part of the HEAT family.
Tyisa Brathwaite, LPN
In Memoriam
October 7, 1973 – March 31, 2025
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Dr. Hermann Mendez was the founding visionary of our HEAT Program and a pioneer in adolescent HIV care. As the first pediatrician in Brooklyn and one of the first in the United States to describe the presentation of perinatal HIV infection in infants and young children, he transformed the way HIV and AIDS were understood and treated in vulnerable communities. His clinical leadership, personal courage, and fierce advocacy laid the foundation for HEAT’s mission. Dr. Mendez dedicated his life to improving outcomes for youth and families in Brooklyn affected by HIV. His influence remains deeply woven into the heart of our work.