The BSR Team

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Dr. Ladner brings over 45 years of experience in healthcare research and organizational development to the Ryan White Staff Support/Part A/MAI Quality Management activities. He was the head of the first Ryan White Title I evaluation, technical assistance and organizational development efforts in Miami-Dade County in the early 1990s, building on over 15 years of health care research, quality improvement and technical assistance experience before the Title I program was initiated, and has served as Project Director for the Ryan White Program work since 2006.

Dr. Ladner has overseen the Behavioral Science Research Corp. (BSR) health care systems research activities since its incorporation in 1975, conducting numerous needs assessments in substance abuse treatment, alcoholism treatment, mental health and HIV/AIDS, as well as creating and implementing quality assurance programs in acute care inpatient and outpatient settings for public and private hospitals.

He has published numerous research papers in statistical modeling of health outcomes, risk factors in HIV and implementation of Total Quality Management programs in industry, and is co-investigator on two Florida International University epidemiology research projects using Ryan White Program data to model risk factors, retention in care and viral load suppression. Dr. Ladner’s primary research focus at BSR is the Staff Support and Part A/Minority AIDS Initiative Quality Management aspects of this project.

Contact Dr. Ladner: [email protected]

Ms. Sergi joined Behavioral Science Research Corp. (BSR) in October 2007 after working as a medical case manager and case manager supervisor in the Ryan White Program for 13 years, as well as providing independent medical case management to persons with HIV receiving Medicaid services under the former Project AIDS Care Waiver program. Her rich experience in Ryan White case management is a vital contribution to Ryan White Program Clinical Quality Management.

Ms. Sergi is the principal Clinical Quality Management applications trainer for Medical Case Managers and supervisors, and serves as the principal Clinical Quality Management technical assistance resource to these providers. She works closely with the Clinical Quality Management implementation in the Ryan White Program, assisting in the annual Affordable Care Act enrollment campaign and diagnosing service delivery Quality Improvement problems arising from this process. In March 2022, she received Sigma Global Institute Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Healthcare certification, followed by Lead Six Sigma Green Belt Professional certification in December 2022.

Her Clinical Quality Management emphases are (1) developing QI initiatives with Ryan White Program Medical Case Management subrecipients to address retention in care and viral load suppression measures; and (2) improving the Ryan White Program Affordable Care Act co-insurance process for clients in need of HIV primary and specialty care services.

Contact Ms. Sergi: [email protected]

Ms. Hilton joined Behavioral Science Research Corp. (BSR) in November 2023, after working as a Quality Manager and MAI Medical Case Manager in the Ryan White Program for 22 years.  Before becoming a Quality Manager, she worked as a clinical office manager providing HIV care and treatment services.  Additionally, she worked with the CDC implementing a community-level HIV prevention intervention designed to change social norms and perceptions of HIV in the Black community.  Ms. Hilton is a CQM Project Manager and works primarily with subrecipients who receive RWP Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) funding. Her objective is to cultivate a culture of Quality Improvement through technical assistance, training, and initiatives focusing on the Model for Improvement to increase viral suppression and retention in medical care.

Contact Ms. Hilton: [email protected]

Mr. Gattorno was born and raised in the South Florida area. He attended Florida International University where he obtained a BS in Biology before receiving his MPH with a concentration in Biostatistics in December 2021. Frank has been working in the veterinary field as a veterinary technician and practice manager for the past decade before transitioning to BSR as a data analyst (first job as an analyst) after receiving his Master’s Degree. In his free time, Frank enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, Sophie, and their three cats

Contact Mr. Gattorno: [email protected]

Ms. Meizoso has worked in the Miami-Dade HIV/AIDS Partnership and Committee infrastructure for more than 15 years, joining Behavioral Science Research Corp. (BSR) in June 2006.  As part of the team for Staff Support Services, she is responsible for providing liaison with all committee members for decision-making to the Care and Treatment Committee (including the annual needs assessment, service prioritization and Health Resources and Services Administration grant application budgeting), the Medical Care Subcommittee (responsible for all policies and formulary changes in medical care, pharmacy services and oral health), the Housing Committee (in coordination with the City of Miami Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program), and the Partnership’s Executive Committee. She is responsible for training new Partnership and committee members, and in orienting new members to the Annual Needs Assessment process.

Prior to coming to working with BSR, Ms. Meizoso was employed at William, Sterns and Associates (WSA) also working as Staff Support for the planning council and prior to her work at WSA, she was a pharmacy technician at a community pharmacy. Overall, Ms. Meizoso has more than 15 years of experience providing technical and medical knowledge in the community planning process.

Contact Ms. Meizoso: [email protected]

Ms. Bontempo worked as a Ryan White Program Planning Council Project Manager from 2004-2011 and rejoined the BSR Team in 2017 as Project Manager/Community Liaison. She serves as the principal staff resource to the Miami-Dade HIV/AIDS Partnership and the Community Coalition Roundtable whose work includes recruiting people with HIV and service providers through outreach at provider agencies, holding recruitment meetings in geographically dispersed locations throughout the County, and other recruitment activities. She serves as the principal staff resource to the Prevention and Strategic Planning Committees whose work includes collaborations with the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County on Integrated Planning and Ending the HIV Epidemic initiatives; and she currently sits on the Integrated HIV/AIDS Planning Technical Assistance Center Advisory Board. Ms. Bontempo is co-developer and co-facilitator with Marlen Meizoso of virtual recruitment and training sessions (Get on Board!), as well as training programs for new members on the intricacies of Ryan White Program Planning Council responsibilities.

Ms. Bontempo manages the Miami-Dade HIV/AIDS Partnership website (www.aidsnet.org), social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram), bi-weekly Community Newsletter, and brochure and marketing publications. She has participated as a trainer and presenter at provider agencies, community events, and the 2022 National Ryan White Conference. She has also been a co-facilitator for the JSI recruitment training series, and a moderator at the IAPAC 2023 National Dialogue on Racism and HIV as a Public Health Crisis. Additionally, she has received commendation for outstanding service in the HIV/AIDS community.

Contact Ms. Bontempo: [email protected]

As Operations Manager, Ms. Lucas supervises and oversees the logistics of all quantitative and qualitative research projects conducted by BSR, including client satisfaction and needs assessment research conducted on behalf of the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Program and the Florida International University Department of Epidemiology.

As Administrator, Ms. Lucas is responsible for BSR’s daily financial operations, human resources processes and internal logistics. Working directly with Dr. Robert Ladner, the company president, Ms. Lucas plans future corporate strategic financial and operational initiatives and seeks to foster a culture of quality improvement, collegiality, and teamwork.

Ms. Lucas has a thorough knowledge of fiscal and financial management practices and techniques; federal guidelines for utilizing federal grant monies; principles, practices and methods of governmental budget formulation, and the application of quality improvement practices in managing complex research projects and program implementation activities.

Contact Ms. Lucas: [email protected]