Professional Overview
Dr. Anthony Daryl Salandy, Ph.D., MSc is a human development and public health professional with over 25 years of leadership and applied experience in mental and behavioral health, harm reduction, HIV/AIDS, and related public health initiatives. His expertise notably spans legislative, executive, programmatic, policy, advocacy, and business strategy domains within harm reduction frameworks.
Currently, Dr. Salandy serves as the Executive Director at Health People, appointed in mid-2025, an organization focused on health equity and social determinants of health, with specialization in harm reduction. Prior to this executive leadership role, he was Senior Director of Development and Business Strategy as well as Chief Program and Business Strategy Officer at the National Harm Reduction Coalition (NHRC), based in Bloomfield, NJ, USA. His tenure at NHRC demonstrates a strong focus on advancing data-driven solutions and evidence-based harm reduction strategies related to overdose prevention, syringe access, tobacco harm reduction, and HIV/hepatitis C prevention.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
- Executive Director, Health People (from May 2025): Leads strategic health equity initiatives targeting mental and behavioral health of adolescents and young adults, emphasizing harm reduction programming, policy advocacy, and business development.
- Chief Program and Business Strategy Officer, NHRC: Oversees development and execution of harm reduction programs, business strategy, and policy advocacy at a national level.
- Senior Director of Development and Business Strategy, NHRC: Spearheaded fundraising, strategic partnerships, and organizational growth efforts to increase access to harm reduction services.
- Committee Member, SAMHSA/CDC/ONDCP Harm Reduction Steering Committee (since January 2022): Contributing to federal steering committee charged with developing and advancing harm reduction policies and frameworks at the national level.
- Frequent public speaker and presenter, including at major events such as the Florida Harm Reduction Conference 2023 and the Harm Reduction International Conference 2025, where he presented on practical strategies to support tobacco harm reduction for people who use drugs (PWUD).
Education and Academic Contributions
- Holds a Ph.D. and MSc. with academic training from Auburn University.
- Has contributed as a researcher and author on topics including substance use, adolescent behavioral health, social determinants of health, and harm reduction policy frameworks.
- Participated in multiple research efforts focusing on the intersection of substance use, mental health, HIV risk behaviors, and social equity, with publications dating back to at least 2016.
Industry and Sector Engagement
- Extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations centered on harm reduction and public health equity.
- Recognized advocate for BIPOC representation and inclusion within the harm reduction movement.
- Known for advancing data-driven, evidence-based solutions and translating these to practical programming and strategic growth initiatives.
- Actively engaged in efforts that broaden harm reduction principles to include tobacco harm reduction and smoking cessation programs.
- Emphasizes the application of harm reduction principles such as acceptance, pragmatism, and social justice in program and policy design.
Geographic Location
- Based in Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA.
- His work impacts national and international harm reduction efforts through coalition-building, conference leadership, and committee work.
Affiliations and Organizational Context
- Health People: An organization addressing complex health challenges with a focus on equity, particularly targeting vulnerable populations such as adolescents and young adults.
- National Harm Reduction Coalition: A leading U.S. nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to evidence-based harm reduction services including overdose prevention, syringe exchange, and HIV/hepatitis C prevention.
- Engaged with federal agencies through a joint steering committee comprising SAMHSA, CDC, and ONDCP to steer national harm reduction policies.
Compensation and Organizational Standing
- Public nonprofit filings indicate a compensation in the range of approximately $163,514 as Senior Director at NHRC as of 2024.
- Recognized as a key figure in leadership with active roles in program design, business development, and health equity initiatives.
Dr. Anthony Salandy represents a senior-level professional with significant interdisciplinary expertise in harm reduction, public health program leadership, strategic development, and policy advocacy. His work at the intersection of behavioral health and structural health equity, augmented by federal policy advisory roles, positions him as a pivotal actor within the harm reduction ecosystem. His engagement with large-scale conferences and policy steering committees signals broad influence and thought leadership in evolving harm reduction frameworks both domestically and internationally.
