Community Care in Reach: Mobile Addiction Services Conference 2025 – Archived

Erik Garcia, MD
Associate Professor of Family Medicine & Community Health, UMass Memorial Health
Team Physician, Road to Care Outreach
Worcester, MA

Erik Garcia, MD has been been providing healthcare to adults experiencing homelessness for the entirety of his career – starting when he completed his Internal Medicine residency in 1994.  He is married to a doctor (the research, PhD kind…”smarter than me” he says) who is incredibly supportive. They have 2 grown kids who (while they have avoided the medical field) have a wonderful sense of social consciousness.

Sarah Mackin, MPH
Division Director, Harm Reduction Services – AHOPE Needle Exchange
Boston Public Health Commission

Sarah Mackin, MPH is the director of AHOPE Needle Exchange at the Boston Public Health Commission, where she began her work in harm reduction and drug user health in 2010. She oversees the largest needle exchange and harm reduction program in New England, which provides comprehensive drug user health services to over 8,000 people each year. Sarah brings over 18 years of experience in the field of public health, substance use, harm reduction, HIV/AIDS, and homelessness to the work. 

Maritza Perez Medina, JD
Director of Federal Affairs, Drug Policy Alliance
Washington, D.C.

Maritza Perez Medina manages DPA’s federal legislative agenda and advocacy strategy in Congress as well as DPA’s general engagement with the federal government on its policy priorities. Previously, Maritza was a Senior Policy Analyst for Criminal Justice Reform at the Center for American Progress (CAP). Prior to joining CAP, Maritza was a Legislative Staff Attorney at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) where she advocated on a range of civil rights issues impacting Latino communities.

Originally from Nevada, Maritza obtained her B.A. from the University of Nevada, Reno with academic honors, graduating with double majors in journalism and Spanish and double minors in political science and economic policy. She earned her J.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, receiving the highest distinction upon graduation for her pro bono work, and is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and in the state of California.

A criminal justice and drug policy expert, Maritza has been featured in various media outlets including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Roll Call, The Boston Globe, CNN, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, NPR, Latino USA, and more.

Kenneth Washington
Assistant Director, AHOPE Needle Exchange
Boston Public Health Commission

Kenneth Washington is an accomplished assistant director of AHOPE Needle Exchange, driven by a passion for harm reduction that stems from his work with at-risk youth. His lived experience has instilled in him a deep understanding of the challenges of racism, classism, and substance use, inspiring him to become a leader in the field.

Kenneth’s outstanding achievements in harm reduction have earned him a seat on the Massachusetts Harm Reduction Advisory Council, a testament to his unwavering dedication to public service. His desire to help his community has led him to excel in drug checking and introduce innovative safer smoking practices to the Boston area outreach.

With his profound knowledge and expertise, Kenneth has made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals and helped to shape policies that promote safer and healthier communities. His contributions have been widely recognized and admired by peers, colleagues, and stakeholders alike.