Health equity with a mission

After signing of the bill in the spring of 2016, the IDEA Exchange opened its doors on December 1, 2016, World AIDS Day.

With the premise of providing new syringes in exchange for used ones, the IDEA Exchange envisions health equity with a mission in increasing access to the tools necessary to keep people healthy, especially those who are most vulnerable.

Operating within the University of Miami, the IDEA Exchange is the only syringe exchange in the state of Florida. Besides its primary function of providing new syringes in exchange for used ones, the IDEA Exchange hosts many auxiliary harm reduction services to reduce the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other blood-borne diseases.

Meet the team


Hansel Tookes III, MD, MPH
Founder and Medical Director

About Hansel

Carlos Padron, MPH
Senior Research Associate

About Carlos

Emelina “Emy” Martinez
Outreach Coordinator

About Emy

IDEA Exchange provides training and technical skills needed to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases

Education