World Trade Center Health Program
Dear World Trade Center Health Program members,
As we approach the 24th anniversary of 9/11, we reserve a special moment in our thoughts to remember the responders and survivors and honor the memory of the victims on that day. During this time, please be kind to yourself and allow yourself the time and space to gather your peace. We will be available if you need extra support. We hope that you continue to put your physical and mental well-being first. As always, we are proud to stand with you and continue to provide support and care for our responder members today and for years to come.
If you need to reach the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence or would like to speak with someone from the mental health team during clinic hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:00PM), please do not hesitate to call 212-263-7335.
For 24/7 mental and emotional support services, please call 1-800-NYC-WELL. In case of immediate psychiatric crisis, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Chat with Peter Haugen, PhD
As a continuation of last year’s anniversary chat, we are pleased to share a special edition interview with Peter Haugen, PhD, mental health director.
Dr. Haugen, can you tell us a little bit about your history with the WTC Health Program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine?
Sure. I joined our WTC Health Program back in February 2007. At that time, it didn’t have an in-house mental health treatment program, and I was brought on board in part to help create one. Our mental health team has grown since then, and currently includes three clinical psychologists, a psychiatrist, and several psychology externs and social work interns.
What are you most proud of in regard to our WTC Health Program?
Members who have been with us for longer than a few years will notice that they tend to see the same faces when they come for monitoring exams or for treatment appointments. This is because we are a relatively small team, and so many of us have chosen year after year to make the WTC Health Program our professional home—I’m in my 18th year here. This allows our members to develop relationships with us over time, which can make a meaningful difference in their experience of the care we deliver. At least that’s my hope. In a time when there are so many traditions or assumptions being questioned, I find it increasingly meaningful that we’re able to provide some stability and continuity.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have encountered in caring for responders?
Our entire staff shares the desire to care for all the conditions our members experience. Full stop. However, as a limited-benefit program, we are required to focus solely on those conditions that are WTC-related. These are challenging constraints for many of our members and our care team.
What are some of the challenges that you see the program having in the future?
Many of our future challenges reflect those we’ve been working on for years, including the way we pass on to new staff and trainees the knowledge we’ve gained from 9/11 and its lasting impact on the responder community. We have program members who volunteer their time to share their experiences with us and answer questions in lunchtime meetings, we make annual trips to the 9/11 memorial, and most importantly, we share our members’ stories. My hope is that all these efforts have and will contribute to our members feeling valued and respected.
For More Information
Look for our emails and newsletters for more information and resources from the program and your WTC Health Program providers.
A Message from Our Clinical Director
Denise J. Harrison, MD
Clinical Director
Welcome to NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence.
We are one of seven centers established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 to provide monitoring, screening, treatment, and support services to WTC responders. We treat those who may have been affected physically or mentally by their service at the 9/11 disaster sites in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Reauthorization of the Zadroga Act in 2015 allows all seven Clinical Centers of Excellence to provide quality healthcare to responders and others affected by the attacks until 2090.
I am delighted to serve as the clinical director of the WTC Health Program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. I have been caring for patients diagnosed with WTC health conditions in various capacities since the Bellevue/NYU Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic, part of the Division of Epidemiology, first developed specialized treatment sessions for responders, survivors, and residents in the wake of 9/11. Over the years, my primary focus has been on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of environmental and occupational lung diseases and on the research related to this important field.
It has been an honor and a privilege to work with WTC responders, and I look forward to continuing to do so.
Postdoctoral Clinical Fellowship
Applications are not open. Deadline has passed and application period will open next fall. The fellow will join our multidisciplinary team in an outpatient setting to learn the integrative assessment and treatment of post-traumatic reactions in WTC first responders. Opportunities for academic writing, collaboration with clinical researchers, and grant writing for continued funding are available. Health insurance, benefits, and a standard annual salary of $56,484 will be provided.
Please email a detailed letter of interest and current curriculum vitae to Peter.Haugen@NYULangone.org. In addition, please email or mail three letters of recommendation, graduate school transcripts, and relevant publications in a single envelope to:
Peter Haugen
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
WTC Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence
38 East 32nd Street, 4th Floor, WTC Suite
New York, NY 10016
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have completed a doctorate degree in counseling or clinical psychology. Applicants with research experience in qualitative and quantitative methods are encouraged to apply. NYU Langone Health is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and minority candidates. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
For further information please contact Peter Haugen, PhD, at Peter.Haugen@NYULangone.org and Alyce Foster, PhD, at Alyce.Foster@NYULangone.org.
Our Response to COVID-19
As we are faced with another wide-scale crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the WTC Health Program is striving to adapt to the existing and changing needs of our members. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in any way.
We are currently offering in-person, telehealth (phone and video), and hybrid appointments for annual monitoring exams. Medical treatment appointments, follow-up treatment appointments, and mental health appointments with our psychologists are also available via telehealth and in-person. WTC responders can call our main office line at 212-263-7335 with any questions or to schedule an appointment.
WTC responders with COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, should call their primary care doctor or sign into their MyChart account to make a Virtual Urgent Care appointment. It is not advisable to visit the emergency department if your symptoms are not severe. Learn more about our COVID-19 resources.
We take your health and safety seriously and will continue to monitor this situation.
Contact Us
Our clinic has moved to 38 East 32nd Street, fourth floor, in Manhattan, between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue. For more information, please contact Trace Rosel, clinical and member services coordinator, at 212-263-7335 or Tricia Guarin, outreach and retention associate, at 212-263-7335.
Additional Information
Information for Providers
Information for Patients
