Human Trafficking and the Medical Field

Come join the 2025 Hope Tour:

Washington DC event at GW Hospital 
for a free, educational panel on 

Human Trafficking, a partnership between Cycling for Change (c4c) and GW

open to the public

Attendees will need to pass through GW Hospital security, so please bring a photo ID!

Moderator:

Sandeep Kapoor, MD

Learn more about Sandeep Kapoor, MD

Sandeep Kapoor, MD serves on the faculty for Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, and Science Education at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and Nursing at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. He serves as Vice President of Emergency Medicine Addiction Services, and Director of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) at Northwell Health. Kapoor has worked towards strengthening the collaboration between the departments of Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Pediatrics by respectfully challenging fellow healthcare professionals to reframe and rethink highly stigmatized community health issues, such as substance use, firearm injury/violence, and pain care.  He is passionate about motivating organizational culture change to drive humanization and enhancement of patient care. Kapoor is the recipient of the 2020 Northwell Health President’s Award for Leadership, the 2020 Outstanding Mentor Award by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the 2020 Emergency Medicine Dr. Michael Guttenberg Physician of the Year Award, and the 2024 United Hospital Fund Tribute to Excellence in Health Care Award.

 

Panelists:

Jeremiah Johnson

Detective Jeremiah Johnson has been with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia for the past sixteen years. Before being promoted to detective in 2013, he worked as a patrol officer and handled cases of domestic violence, narcotics, and violent felonies. He is currently assigned to the FBI/MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. He specialized in investigating cases of sex trafficking involving juveniles and adults, along with assisting in cases of child exploitation, child sexual abuse material, and child abductions. He is a trained forensic interviewer of children and has conducted hundreds of interviews regarding the sexual abuse and sex trafficking of children. Finally, Johnson is a part of the District of Columbia’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children’s Multi-disciplinary Team and HOPE Court review process to ensure that all high-risk children are being screened and offered a trauma-informed approach to treatment. 

Katrina Massey 

Katrina Massey is a human trafficking advocate and survivor, having been exploited in the commercial sex industry as a teenager in Atlanta and New York to becoming a real estate broker and restaurateur of several ventures managing over $6 million annually. Massey has used her experiences to inspire professionals and the lives of youth affected by sex-trafficking to find balance, inspiration, and progression beyond trauma and experiences that affect personal growth.

Massey began in the movement as a victim’s advocate and expert speaker on the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). She is often tapped by government entities, law enforcement, social service agencies, juvenile court systems, and families to inform treatment services, facilitate training, and create awareness; her insight has proven invaluable. 

As a Restaurateur and Entrepreneur, Massey has partnered with numerous ventures, employing survivors and implementing mentorship programs.  She has used her experience and expertise to create opportunities for survivors, giving them a reflection of the possibilities beyond their trauma.

For nearly twenty years, her knowledge and expertise have impacted changes in laws on the local and national front. Massey’s partnerships include Homeland Security's Blue Campaign, Sanctuary for Families, CATW, Runaway Girl, NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking, and others.  She also sits on several boards including PACT (Protect All Children from Trafficking) and local mutual aids. Being of service is her passion. In all she does, she leads with compassion.

Santhosh Paulus, MD

Santhosh Paulus, MD, is the Senior Program Director for the Northwell Health HEART for Human Trafficking Program: HT Education, Advocacy, Response, & Training Program, Site Director for Graduate Medical Education and Hospitalist at Huntington Hospital Northwell Health, Assistant Professor at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Founder and President of Cycling for Change (c4c), a nonprofit whose mission is to raise funds and awareness to address issues relating to human trafficking and to empower survivors by amplifying their voices through collaboration and has provided over $151k in these efforts. 

He has partnered and collaborated with local, national, and international leaders in the anti-trafficking community, shaping and positioning the Program as a resource to an interdisciplinary audience. He serves as Co-Chair of Forced Labor Working Group, a standing joint working group of Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council and Government Coordinating Council, serves on the Board of Directors for PACT by ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit that works on the issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children, member of the Suffolk Country Anti-Trafficking Initiative Task Force and serves as an Advisory Board Member for NOMI Network, a nonprofit whose mission is to end human trafficking by creating pathways to safe employment, empowering women and girls to break cycles of human exploitation in their families and
communities.

He is married, has four daughters and loves to cycle and play basketball.

Katie Russell

Katie Russell is the Director of Mobilization in Chicago for International Justice Mission, a human rights organization combating modern slavery, human trafficking, and violence against women and children on a global scale. She has the privilege of sharing about IJM’s work with Chicagoans across the metro region about how Chicago can get involved in helping ensure IJM can achieve their vision to protect half a billion people who are vulnerable to violence through justice system strengthening.

Prior to joining IJM, Russell served as Senior Director of External Affairs for International Student House of Washington, DC, a nonprofit that promotes dialogue and fosters global citizenship among graduate students from around the world coming to DC. She worked closely with the organization’s Board of Directors, alumni community, the diplomatic community, and managed their communications and development efforts.

Prior to her time in Washington, Russell worked at a multi-site church in Chicago where she supported the activities of the young professionals community. In a volunteer capacity with Renew Chicago, Russell oversaw a large-scale service program, For One Chicago, that engaged hundreds of volunteers and partner organizations throughout the city.

She currently serves on the Board of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago (PWCC) and is a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Next Generation Working Group.

Russell is an Americorps alumna, having served in NYC on the leadership development team and in Public School 75.