Staff
Barbara E. Warren, PsyD, CPXP
Barbara E. Warren PsyD, is Senior Director for LGBT Programs and Policies in the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Mount Sinai Health System, where she leads Mount Sinai’s implementation of LGB/TGNB culturally and clinically competent health care across the Health System. She holds an appointment as Assistant Professor of Medical Education at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she is teaching and developing curricula to address best practices in serving diverse patient populations.
Dr. Warren previously served as Distinguished Lecturer and Director for the Center for LGBT Social Science and Public Policy at Hunter College, City University of New York. For 21 years, she was senior management at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City, led the Center’s behavioral health programs, co-founded the Center’s then ground breaking Gender Identity Project and was responsible for the Center’s health policy and government relations initiatives.
Dr. Warren has served as an advisor to local, state, and national government and policy organizations including chairing the Multi-Cultural Advisory Council to the NYS Commissioner of Mental Health, on the LGBT Task Force at Health Care for All New Yorkers as a Board Member of the National Coalition for LGBT Health and currently on the Board of the National LGBT Cancer Network. She holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and has 40 years of experience in the development of substance abuse, mental health, and public health programs in healthcare and community settings.
Edgar Vargas, MPH, LMSW
Edgar’s work has focused on improving health outcomes for marginalized communities, especially in consideration of intersecting identities, incorporating an anti-racist and social justice approach in his work. Having worked for several non-profits, Edgar has facilitated training deliveries on a range of topics, including harm reduction practices and LGB/TGNB inclusivity in healthcare settings. As a social worker and public health advocate, Edgar has provided direct clinical care to people experiencing substance use disorders and mental health issues. Edgar has managed a number of client-facing programs, including HIV and HCV rapid testing programs and a harm-reduction based needle exchange program aimed at migrant farm workers, monolingual Spanish speakers, communities of color and LGB/TGNB people.
Edgar Vargas is currently the Assistant Director for LGBT Programs and Policies, Office for Diversity and Inclusion. As the Assistant Director, he works to expand diversity, equity and inclusion across the health system. Edgar facilitates training deliveries for health care providers and faculty, staff and students, sharing best practices for engaging LGB/TGNB patients. Formerly, Edgar worked as a Program Manager for NDRI, focused on developing, adapting and delivering training and technical assistance for substance use treatment and mental health organizations seeking to improve the adoption of evidence-based practices, such as Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Edgar is also a practicing psychotherapist, specializing in and working with LGB/TGNB people and LGB/TGNB people of color. Edgar has over 10 years of experience working with LGB/TGNB communities in many capacities. Edgar’s ultimate goal in life is to make the world a safer place for LGB/TGNB folks to thrive. Edgar holds a Master’s of Public Health (MPH), and a Master's in Social Work in Policy and Clinical Practice from Columbia University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Chicana/o Studies with an emphasis on Psychology and LGB/TGNB Communities from the University of California Santa Barbara. Edgar is an out gay Latino professional living in New York City and when he is not working, he is in the company of his 5-year-old Chihuahua Rat Terrier dog, Oliver Yoshi.