About

Alex Escaja-Heiss (he/they) is an award-winning filmmaker, facilitator, consultant, and healthcare worker. Raised in a multilingual, German-Spanish-American household, Alex was exposed to different cultures and viewpoints at an early age, which has translated into his work. Receiving his first film award at twelve, Alex spent much of their young adult life sharing stories through film and raising awareness for LGBTQ youth issues. His film Looking Back at Me, produced at sixteen, received multiple awards and screenings across the globe. His early work as a filmmaker and advocate earned him a feature in Teen Vogue as one of GLAAD's 20 Under 20 Rising Stars.

Alex currently serves as a Health Educator at the Mount Sinai Institute for Advanced Medicine in New York City, where he provides bilingual sexual health education, STI testing, and care coordination at academic institutions, community organizations, and nightlife venues. Alongside their outreach and clinical experience, Alex leads workshops and presentations on inclusivity, accessibility, and compassionate care. They have sat on boards and consulted for organizations such as PFLAG, GLAAD, and Planned Parenthood to advance transgender representation and LGBTQ rights. In honor of his advocacy and patient care, Alex was recognized by Mount Sinai as a LGB/TGNB Healthcare Champion.

Alex holds degrees in Film & Television Studies and Gender, Sexuality, & Women's Studies from the University of Vermont, and is currently pursuing a third degree at the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing. He looks forward to caring for his community as a registered nurse in 2027.