Administrative Staff and Bios

Chief Executive Officer
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Peter Beitchman, DSW, LMSW is Chief Executive Officer. He has been affiliated with the agency since 1984, first as Deputy Director until 2000. Dr. Beitchman has worked and advocated within New York’s mental health system for more than 40 years actively serving as a board member of a number of advocacy organizations as well as holding key public mental health policy positions. He has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Hunter College of Social Work and is currently an Adjunct Instructor at Columbia University School of Social Work.

Chief Operating Officer
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Robert Yankowitz, PhD is Chief Operating Officer. He joined the staff in 2001 and is responsible for all program operations. He is a clinical administrator with more than 40 years experience in program management and service provision for people with serious mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness.  

Medical Director
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Harriet O’Hagan, M.D. has been our full-time Medical Director since 2000 and is responsible for establishing and maintaining medication protocols and policies as well as supervision of staff who administer medications to clients and is the liaison with the on-site health clinic. She is a consulting psychiatrist for the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis.

Director of Housing Development
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Carole Gordon, LMSW, is Director of Housing Development and responsible for all housing development activities including funding and working with syndicators, architects, attorneys, consultants and contractors. Prior to 2007 she was Director of Development for 30 years, a position that included both agency fund-raising and housing development. 

Director of Residential Services
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Earl Benjamin has a Masters of Science in Administration and is Director of Residential Services overseeing the agency’s housing division that serves over 750 individuals in single-site buildings and scatter-site apartments throughout Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. Prior to joining The Bridge in 2009, Earl was Division Director for another human service agency working with homeless individuals. 

Director of Vocational Services
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Patricia Callahan, EdM, MA, CRC is an Associate Director of the PROS (Personalized Recovery Oriented Services) Program and is responsible for vocational services including work training, job placement and special projects that assist clients in the workplace. She joined the staff in 1992.

Director of Clinical Administration
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Tabitha Gaffney, MA in Forensic Psychology, is the Director of Clinical Administration and Quality Improvement since 2007. She is responsible for overseeing the Mental Health Clinic as well as several residential programs and ensures compliance with government funders’ clinical regulations and requirements.  

Director of Community Case Management Programs
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Rory Gilbert, LMSW, is Director of Community Case Management Programs overseeing ACT, SHACT (ACT with supportive housing), Blended Case Management and Queens Supported Housing. He joined the staff in 2000. He is an adjunct Professor of Adult Continuing Education at Lehman College.  

Director of Clinical Services
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Sharon Gold, LCSW, is Director of Clinical Services and PROS (Personalized Recovery Oriented Services). She has been on staff for 28 years and became Director of Clinical Services in 2000. She is responsible for all mental health services provided to PROS clients.

Director of Finance
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Donald Gorsica, MBA, is the Chief Financial Officer. He joined the staff in 2006 and is responsible for the financial management of the organization including day-to-day fiscal operations, audits, tax credit accountability and supervision of fiscal staff. 

Director of Development and External Relations
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Ann R. Hyatt, ACFRE, has a Masters in Fundraising Management and is Director of Development and External Relations since 2010. She is responsible for all fund-raising activities and public relations. She has been in the development field for more than 20 years.  

Director of Addiction Treatment Services
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Susan Kaskowitz, LCSW, CASAC, is Director of The Bridge Medically Supervised Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program. Ms. Kaskowitz, who also has a Certificate in Psychotherapy from the Harlem Family Institute, joined the staff in 1986 and has held a number of senior program management positions.

Director of Human Resources
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Anthea Sutherland, JD, SPHR joined The Bridge in 2000 and oversees all functional areas of human resources and daily administration of the department.  Ms. Sutherland works collaboratively with management, the union and staff to improve the work experience at The Bridge. 

Director of Information Technology
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Anthony Tozza, BA, MCP is Director of Information Technology since 2000 and supports the operations and connectivity of the organization, an ever enlarging activity with off-site programs and buildings throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens.