News
July 14, 2021The Alliance for Positive Health Welcomes New Members to its Board of Directors
Kandis V. Backus, MS, PharmD, AAHIVP came to NYS to serve as a Medical Scientist for Gilead Sciences. She previously held a faculty position as Assistant Professor of Population Health Sciences at the University of MS Medical Center. She left her faculty role to serve, at a larger capacity, a community living with and exposed to HIV. During her time in MS she served as a preceptor for pharmacy students and residents. She served as faculty for the Southeast AIDS Education Training Center. She served as the clinical pharmacist for Mississippi’s largest Ryan White clinic (~2200 patients). Her clinical responsibilities included caring for the primary care needs of people living with HIV and at risk for contracting HIV. She was grant funded for implementation science projects such as a pharmacist led rapid PrEP initiation program, a telePrEP program, a telePrimaryCare program, and a relinkage to HIV care program in rural MS. She also co-led a support group for transgender women living in the Jackson, MS area, Beautiful Transformation. Kandis obtained her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University. In 2017 she obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of MS. She completed a residency with Open Arms Healthcare Center and Walgreens. Her residency was focused on cultural competency, HIV treatment and prevention, and qualitative research techniques. She has been married for 14 years to her husband (Fremel) and has three amazing children (Madison Joy (MJ) 3, James Thomas and Mason 3). She enjoys baking, running, and collecting coffee mugs.
Keira O’Brien is the VP, Chief Operating Officer of Government Markets at Magellan Rx Management, a Magellan Health organization. In her current role she has oversight of support functions 
for the pharmacy operations of Medicaid Fee for Service, State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs and AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. Keira has a background in financial management with extensive experience working on government pharmacy programs, directly for the government and for local non-profit organizations. Her most recent board experience was Treasurer and then General Member of the Board of Trustees for the Susan Odell Taylor School. As a former employee of the Alliance when it was the AIDS Council of NENY, her service to the organization is coming full circle.
Carl Rorie Alexandrov, BA, LMSW joined CDPHP in 2009 as manager of behavioral health services and currently serves as vice president of behavioral health operations. In this role, Carl directly oversees the behavioral health call center, assists with implementing and managing utilization management and quality initiatives, and integrates 
behavioral health with other medical services. Prior to joining CDPHP, Carl was a clinical manager for UnitedHealth Group and directly supervised the clinical team completing utilization review and quality management for behavioral health benefits. He also served as a clinical manager at ValueOptions (now Beacon Health Options) and St. Peter’s Behavioral Health. Carl is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and is licensed in social work by the New York State Department of Education. Carl earned a master’s degree in social work and a B.A. in communications from The University at Albany.
For information on our Board of Directors and to learn more about the Alliance for Positive Health, visit www.allianceforpositivehealth.org
