Keynote Speakers

NC Governor, Roy Cooper

Roy Cooper is a trusted leader and family man who is honored to serve as North Carolina’s Governor. Roy Cooper has spent nearly three decades in public service protecting families, keeping communities safe, and working to create jobs and improve schools. The son of a school teacher, he knows that education creates opportunity and he…

NC Opioid Summit, Mandy Cohen, NCDHHS Secretary

Dr. Mandy Cohen was appointed to the role of Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in January 2017 by Governor Roy Cooper. Secretary Cohen and her team work tirelessly to improve the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians. DHHS has 17,000 employees and an annual budget of…

Kody Kinsley, NCDHHS

Kody H. Kinsley serves as the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health & Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at DHHS. He leads state-wide public policy and operations that promote whole-person health by developing prevention methods, interventions, and systems of care for individuals living with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and substance use disorders.…

NC Opioid Summit Josh Stein NC Attorney General

Josh Stein was sworn in as North Carolina’s 50th Attorney General in 2017. As Attorney General, he is focused on protecting North Carolina families from crime and consumer fraud. Stein has made combatting the opioid epidemic a top priority. His office drafted the STOP Act to reduce the number of people who become addicted to…

Mark Benton, DHHS Deputy Secretary for Health Services

Mark Benton is DHHS Deputy Secretary for Health Services. He is responsible for overseeing the Divisions of Public Health, Health Services Regulation, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Services for the Blind. He also oversees Disability Determination Services and the Offices of Rural Health, Minority Health and Health Disparities,…

Admiral James Winnefeld

Admiral Winnefeld graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and served for 37 years in the United States Navy.  He was an instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School and commanded a fighter squadron, the amphibious ship USS CLEVELAND, and the aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE. As a flag officer,…

Monique Tula

Monique is the Executive Director of Harm Reduction Coalition, a national advocacy and capacity-building organization that promotes the health and dignity of people affected by drug use. Previously, she was Vice President of Programs with AIDS United where she oversaw the organization’s grantmaking and technical assistance portfolios. A skilled trainer and alum of the Centers…

Bertha Madras, Professor of Pscyhobiology and Drug Abuse Expert

Bertha Madras, PhD is Professor of Psychobiology, Harvard Medical School, is based at McLean Hospital, and is cross-appointed at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research focuses on brain biology and addiction. She has written or edited over 200 manuscripts, essays, articles, monographs and books, including “The Cell Biology of Addiction”, and “Effects of Drug Abuse…

NC Senator Robinson, PhD

Senator Gladys Ashe Robinson, Deputy Minority Leader of the North Carolina Senate, has been elected to her fifth term in the Senate. She is Chair of the Guilford County Delegation and is a dedicated advocate for the people of North Carolina, specifically Guilford County. Senator Robinson serves on the following Legislative Committees: Appropriations/Base Budget, Education/Higher…

NC Senator Jim Davis

Senator Jim Davis has represented NC Senate District 50 since 2011. He serves on a range of committees including: Chairman Joint Legislative Committee Transportation Appropriations; Chairman Senate Transportation Policy Committee; Member Senate Finance, Health Care, and Judiciary Committees; Chairman Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government; Chairman Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government; Member Joint…

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Speakers

Alan is the Branch Head of the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch (IVPB), North Carolina Division of Public Health. The Injury and Violence Prevention Branch supports the NC Department of Health and Human Service’s response to the opioid epidemic, including implementation of the NC Opioid Action Plan, convening the Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse Advisory…

Dr. Khalil serves as the Naloxone Specialist for the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch at the North Carolina Division of Public Health. Her work includes coordination of naloxone distribution across the state and development of a tracking protocol for a variety of community-level and state partners. Dr. Khalil also helps support the expansion of various…

Amy is an Injury Prevention Consultant at the North Carolina Division of Public Health (DPH), where she manages the overdose prevention-related grants and contract work for the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch. Her work includes developing partnerships and technical assistance with local health departments, community-based programs, healthcare organizations, and academic partners. Prior to DPH, Amy…

Dr. Anna Austin is a Research Scientist at the Injury Prevention Research Center and a graduate of the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was previously a CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellow in the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch at the North Carolina Division of Public…

Anna is the Executive Director of Community Impact NC. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Recreational Therapy and a Master’s of Science in Professional and Substance Abuse Counseling and a Master’s of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling. Anna holds credentials as both a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) and Certified Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant (CSAPC)…

Anna Stein works with the NC Division of Public Health as legal advisor to the Chronic Disease and Injury Section on policies relating to tobacco-free living, healthy eating, active living, and injury prevention. She served with the Community Transformation Grant Project from 2012-2014 and is currently a member of the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch’s…

Lead Medical Director-Government Programs Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina As Lead Medical Director for Government Programs, Dr. Rao-Patel oversees the Medical Directors responsible for the utilization and care management activities for Medicare Advantage, Federal Employee Program (FEP), and the NC State Health Plan lines of business at Blue Cross Blue Shield of…

Basil Savitsky, PhD, is with Addiction Professionals of NC (APNC). He serves as the Director of the NC Partnership for Success (PFS) — a five-year SAMHSA grant to prevent underage drinking, vaping, and marijuana use. In his previous position with RHA Health Services, he managed the CURES/STR, the SPF/RX, and the Prevention Block Grants for Mitchell…

Becky is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology. Dr. Naumann’s main area of research is injury prevention. Her work is focused on understanding risk factors and trends of unintentional injuries and evaluating injury prevention interventions, largely in the areas of opioid overdose and road traffic injury. Methodologically, Dr. Naumann has experience and interest…

Tara is aParamedic and Mental Health Professional, leads Forsyth County’s Opioid Task Force. She has been instrumental in pulling together community partners to work on fighting the opioid epidemic from a variety of angles. Currently, she serves as a Captain with Forsyth County Emergency Services and developed the foundation for their Mobile Integrated Health (MIH)…

Carrie is the Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Health & IDD for North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services. A graduate of Princeton University, she received her medical degree from Duke University’s School of Medicine, a Master’s in Public Health from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and trained in Psychiatry at…

Catherine is the Project Director for North Carolina Essentials for Childhood Initiative for the NC Division of Public Health. Essentials for Childhood is part of a comprehensive child abuse and neglect prevention effort across seven states supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other funders. In this role, she facilitates public…

Christopher Abert is the founder and director of the Indiana Recovery Alliance. He has decades of experience as an intravenous drug user and lived with Hepatitis C for over 20 years. He has 15 years of professional experience collaborating with people who use drugs, survivors of domestic violence, at-risk youth, and people experiencing poverty and…

Christina works as the viral hepatitis program managers for the North Carolina Communicable Disease Branch.  Christina received her MPH at Boston University School of Public Health, and has worked in viral hepatitis for the past six years.

Christine is a native Kentuckian and the daughter of missionary parents who served Eastern Kentucky for more than 40 years. She relocated to North Carolina in 1981 and has come to call the Raleigh area home. After several years in corporate America, including work in diabetes management, Chris began her nonprofit career with a faith-based,…

Christopher is a graduate of North Carolina State University where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Social work. While attending NC State, Chris was instrumental in founding the Collegiate Recovery Community on campus. Mr. Campau currently works for Addiction Professionals of North Carolina as the Director of Scholastic Recovery, where he is able to offer…

Colin Miller has been involved in harm reduction since 2003 as both a recipient and provider of services. He was first introduced to harm reduction via Access Works in his hometown of Minneapolis, MN, and would later be engaged with Prevention Point in Philadelphia, PA. Over the years, Colin has worked primarily with people living…

Cris Harrelson has 25 years of public health experience, both on the local and state level. He began his career in 1994 in Bladen County as an Environmental Health Specialist, eventually moving up to the Environmental Health Coordinator position in 1997. He accepted a position as a Regional Environmental Health Specialist with the NC Department…

Dean has worked in the field of substance use prevention and treatment over the entirety of his 30 year career. He has spent the past 22 years at UNC-CH working within the span of education, prevention science, early identification and intervention/referral, and ongoing recovery supports for students. Prior to campus life, Dean worked as a…

Deaanna has a Master’s degree in Human Services Leadership Development and is a Certified Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant (CSAPC). She has served on various advisory boards and coalitions at the state and local level to develop strategic prevention plans for quality improvement. Deeanna is the current Secretary of the North Carolina Substance Abuse Prevention Providers…

Elizabeth is a native North Carolinian, growing up Greensboro before deciding to explore the Midwest for college. She graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio, where she received a dual Bachelor of Arts in sociology and religious studies. She is the opioid response program coordinator for the NC Council of churches. Highlights of the…

Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, MD, MPH serves North Carolina as the State Health Director and the Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health and Human Services.  In this role, she promotes public health and prevention activities, as well as provides guidance and oversight on a variety of cross-Departmental issues including the Opioid Epidemic, Early Childhood,…

Elizabeth is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina and since 2006 has worked at MAHEC developing continuing education and special projects around the issues of trauma informed care, whole person care and substance use/opioid use disorders. Currently Ms. Flemming directs pain management and substance use disorder programs with MAHEC’s Chief Education Officer, Blake Fagan,…

Elyse is the State Opioid Coordinator for the NC Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, Dr. Powell coordinates NC DHHS’ response to the opioid epidemic, including shaping response strategy and leading coordination across treatment, prevention, surveillance, and policy strategies to best improve outcomes for North Carolinians. Dr. Powell is passionate about advancing…

Ennis is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in early childhood mental health who has worked in a variety of roles serving at-risk children ages birth to 5 and their families. She has worked in North Carolina since 1992 serving as a home visitor, program director and as a social worker on a multidisciplinary team…

Erika serves as the Director of the Office of Healthy Opportunities for the NC Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, she leads the Department’s comprehensive strategy to effectively deliver health, not just health care by addressing the medical and non-medical drivers of health including housing, food, transportation and interpersonal safety. Erika started…

Erin Day joined Community Impact NC in October of 2018 and is the Director of the Division of Coalition Support. In 2006, she received a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Religion & Philosophy from Barton College. Erin has worked for over 10 years in the prevention of substance use disorders. She has…

Dr. Gary Junker currently serves as Director of Behavioral Health in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Adult Prisons. In this role, Dr. Junker provides clinical and administrative oversight for behavioral health services across 55 prisons statewide to include psychology, social work and alcohol and chemical dependency programs. Dr. Junker possesses 29 years of…

George is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the field of child trauma treatment. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Dr. Ake is…

Gretchen Summerville (she, her, hers) has been working in the field of public health since 1997 and has a degree in Political Science from NC State University. For over 20 years, she has worked at the local and state level in North Carolina and Nevada, focusing on creating healthy communities and improving health outcomes. Gretchen…

Holly Carter is the Outreach and Training Specialist for the Lock Your Meds NC Communications Campaign. She provides technical assistance for approximately 40 prevention agencies implementing the campaign in over 75 counties. She previously worked as a Prevention Specialist for RHA Health Services Prevention Resource Center, serving 12 NC Counties and as Tobacco Prevention Coordinator…

Jeff Spargo is the Program Coordinator for the Mitchell-Yancey Substance Abuse Task Force, a coalition under the non-profit Partners Aligned Toward Health (PATH). He manages the coalition’s federal Drug Free Communities grant, as well as works to implement CURES and SPF/Rx grants specifically in Mitchell County. Jeff has served in this capacity for over 2…

Jesse is a former drug user and a formerly incarcerated person. He works as the statewide overdose prevention coordinator, an outreach worker and the statewide volunteer coordinator for the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition and, as such, he participates in and advocates for harm reduction efforts in the community. These efforts include but are not…

Jessica has twenty years of experience in substance misuse prevention, including thirteen years conducting training and technical assistance to prevention block grant providers, law enforcement, coalitions and collaboratives in Illinois and North Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of…

Jessica has twenty years of experience in substance misuse prevention, including thirteen years conducting training and technical assistance to prevention block grant providers, law enforcement, coalitions and collaboratives in Illinois and North Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of…

John joined the N.C. Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) as Director of Pharmacy and DMEPOS Programs in October 2014. John holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the UNC Eschelman School of Pharmacy. His impressive 30+ years experience in management of hospital, long-term care and retail pharmacy and DME demonstrates his knowledge of the industry.…

Jon is a senior public health scientist in the Behavioral Health Research Division at RTI International, where he conducts behavioral epidemiological research on risk factors and health outcomes associated with the illicit drug use and drug injection. He is a medical anthropologist by training with two decades of community-based, epidemiological field experience in the areas…

Karen Buck is the Evidence Based Practice Administrator for Community Corrections, Department of Public Safety. Karen has overseen the implementation and continuous development of the practices aligned with the principles of EBP such as the supervision tools, quality assurance tools for supervisors, officer skill development, training, automation and policy. For the past 20 years she…

KC Buchanan (they, them, theirs) is a Queer, macro-oriented MSW, a NC native, and a deep lover of dogs and super spicy foods. They attended Appalachian State University for both their BSW and MSW education and worked within the anti-intimate partner and sexual violence movement in NC for the past 3 years. They recently started…

Ken is the Assistant Director of Consumer Policy and Engagement, North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. In this role, he directs the development of policies and DMH initiatives that increase opportunities for community inclusion, self-determination, and Recovery. Mr. Schuesselin serves as the key policy advisor for consumers across the…

Kendall Wood is the SPF-Rx Project Director at the Governor’s Institute on Substance Abuse where she provides project management and oversight for 5 NC SPF-Rx funded subrecipient communities. Previously, she served as the NC Partnership for Success Outreach Specialist assisting the state prevention team in planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based strategies, trainings and technical assistance…

Kim James has a Master’s in Rhetoric and Composition and is the Executive Director of Burke Recovery; a nonprofit agency in Burke County that provides substance use treatment and prevention services to adults and adolescents. In addition, Kim serves as the Leadership Chair for the Burke Substance Abuse Network (BSAN), a county-wide coalition dedicated to…

Mr. Kurtis Taylor is a person in long-term recovery. For him, this means that he has not used alcohol or any other substance in over 16 years. Mr. Taylor obtained his associates degree in Human Services & Substance Use Disorder Counseling from Wake Technical Community College in 2015. He is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree…

Laura has served as communications director for Attorney General Josh Stein since he took office in Jan. 2017. In that role, she has led the Department of Justice’s work on the More Powerful NC public education campaign. Before her time at the Department of Justice, Laura worked for six years at Capstrat, a communications agency,…

Lauren Kestner is the Harm Reduction Program Manager and Prevention Specialist at Center for Prevention Services located in Charlotte, NC. It is at this agency that she oversees the Queen City Needle Exchange Program, leads the Charlotte Regional Harm Reduction Coalition, and provides resiliency focused programs for youth. Originally from New Jersey, she received a…

Lillie is the Community Overdose consultant with the North Carolina Division of Public Health. She leads the North Carolina Safer Syringe Initiative, overseeing and supporting syringe exchange programs and other harm reduction-based health services for people who use drugs. Ms. Armstrong has been involved in harm reduction since 2008 and has worked with programs in…

Lisa Macon Harrison, MPH local health director in Granville and Vance Counties in North Carolina, has worked at the intersection of public health research and practice in North Carolina since 1995. Ms. Harrison’s areas of expertise and public health leadership and training include: Advocating for the Public Health Workforce and Rural Health Working with partners…

Lisa is the Assistant Medical Director at the Asheville Comprehensive Treatment Center. Lisa has been practicing in healthcare for 30 years. Primarily she has practiced and continues to practice as a physician assistant, licensed in the state of North Carolina. Lisa has practiced in multiple disciplines, and she currently practices in the areas of addiction…

Litasha is currently a Durham VA Medical Center social worker in the Substance Use Disorder Clinic. She has 19 years’ experience in the substance use disorder field.

Loftin Wilson is the Rural Programs Coordinator with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition. He started as a volunteer with the NCHRC in 2010 and then worked part-time as a Harm Reduction Organizer for NCHRC for five years, before starting as full-time staff with NCHRC in the fall of 2015. He does overdose prevention, HIV/hepatitis…

Louise is an activist and educator in NC whose work and expertise in drug user health, social and criminal justice reform has driven the expansion and acceptance of harm reduction in NC and the Southern US. She is a harm reduction consultant who specializes in women’s health, drug policy reform, and the meaningful engagement of…

Lucas currently works in the Veterans Justice Program at the Durham VA Health Care System with our nation’s heroes and heroes incarcerated in state and federal prisons preparing for release.  He has been privileged to volunteer with several community based organizations including NC Harm Reduction Coalition and Urban Survivors Union.

Madison is the Performance Improvement Specialist, Behavioral and Community for the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation. Her current work focuses on the Foundation’s opioid portfolio. She is excited to be part of such important work happening in hospitals, health systems and communities across North Carolina. Prior to this role, Madison spent the past decade leading efforts…

Maggie is the Deputy Director of Administration for Community Correction at NCDPS. She graduated from North Carolina State University, and worked for the Department of Public Safety since November 1996. She began career at Central Prison as a case manager working with inmates. She also worked in the Diagnostic Center at Polk Youth Institution prior…

Margaret Bordeaux, is a North Carolina native, is the Justice Involved Overdose Prevention assignee for the CDC Foundation and North Carolina’s Division of Public Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Branch. Margaret is focused on how health services are offered and delivered to people who use drugs that are cycling in and out of our state’s…

Project Director-NC Div. of MH/DD/SAS Martin has worked in the behavioral health field for over 30 years with an emphasis on addictive disorders.  Initially in the US Air Force where he grew from providing counseling to those in need on various bases to managing addictions clinics, to being handpicked to join the Inspector General’s team…

Mary Beth Cox, MPH is the Substance Use Epidemiologist at the North Carolina Division of Public Health. Before joining the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch in 2016 she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi and worked in communicable disease surveillance in New York and North Carolina. In her current position, Mary Beth focuses…

Dr. Shanahan is an Assistant Professor of Maternal and Child Health and a Research Scientist at the Injury Prevention Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The focus of Dr. Shanahan’s research is to improve the health and developmental trajectories of children. Her research focuses on adverse events that potentially influence…

Melea is the Partnership Engagement Manager with Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina. Melea believes that all children deserve to grow up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment free of abuse and neglect. She is a National Trainer in the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework and the trauma informed curriculum Connections Matter. She represents Prevent…

Melinda has twenty years of experience in substance abuse prevention, including seventeen years evaluating school and community-based substance abuse prevention interventions, and three years administering state substance abuse prevention grants. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University, a Master of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and…

Melissia is an experienced public safety project director with over 19 years within the area of criminal justice and public safety initiatives, primarily geared towards local communities. In her work with North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) she oversees the development and implementation of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) sites across the State. As a…

Mike Dolan Fliss worked in public health informatics, epidemiology and clinic management at county and state level since 2010. He graduated from Duke University (2003) with a double major in computer science and philosophy, from UNC-CH with a Master of Social Work (2009) with a concentration in management and community practice, and most recently a…

Nicholle is the Director of Behavioral Health for the North Carolina Healthcare Association. In this role, Nicholle oversees all grant-funded initiatives aimed at improving clinical outcomes for behavioral health patients receiving hospital care and development of policy and advocacy strategies to improve quality, access, and equity of care. In previous roles, Nicholle has worked as…

Nicole has been working in the field of prevention since 2001. She has a Master of Public Health degree from The George Washington University School of Public Health. Nicole is employed at Wake Forest School of Medicine as the Project Coordinator for the Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC). The PTTC is a new initiative…

Penny Shelton, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP, Executive Director for the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Campbell University and completed a two-year, post-doctoral fellowship in geriatrics with the University of North Carolina and Glaxo, Inc. Dr. Shelton is a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist and Fellow with the American Society of…

Rebecca Planchard is the Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. In this role she works collaboratively with DHHS leadership, other state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and families across North Carolina to develop and take action on statewide goals for early childhood. She is the lead on the…

Community Advocate for Dare County. I started the Syringe Exchange in Dare County. Lived life experience with a Problematic heroin addiction. I love working with the PWUD community and helping them get and learn about resources available to them. Food, clothing, shelter (this is very limited and only run in the winter months in Dare)…

Rob Thompson joined NC Child in January 2014. As the deputy director, Rob oversees the organization’s communications, research, and advocacy staff and programs. Prior to joining NC Child, Rob worked from 2008 to 2013 as the executive director of the Covenant with North Carolina’s Children. In that role, Rob oversaw the organization’s government relations, membership…

Robert “Sam” Melville Raised a military brat until age 18. Father USMC Officer Mother School Teacher Lived all over The United States: NC,SC,VA,TX,CA, AZ,HI Lived in Egypt and Israel: Summer 1975 Raised in Military Culture during Vietnam Era Alcohol part of same. That’s where it all began First beer at age five Family dysfunction from…

Dr. Sara McEwen is the Executive Director of the Governor’s Institute, a position she has held since 2008. The Governor’s Institute provides innovative substance use disorder related professional education and technical assistance, workforce development, and creates and facilitates extensive collaborations with and among physician groups, universities/ medical schools, community providers, and state and federal agencies…

Sara Smith, MA, CHES is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) with over 9 years’ experience working in Health Education. She is currently the Communication Consultant with the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch (IVPB), where she coordinates and manages communication efforts that pertain to overdose prevention implementation. Ms. Smith received her master’s degree in Health…

Sarah Potter is the Executive Director of the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC), and is the former Team Leader for the Prevention and Early Intervention section of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services. She also previously she served as President of Creative Alliance where she specialized in program…

Scott is the Medication-Assisted Treatment Director of SouthLight Healthcare in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill’s Master of Social Work Program. Luetgenau currently sits on the board of Addiction Professionals of North Carolina while also serving as their Vice President of the South Central Region. He also serves as the…

Mr. Proescholdbell is the Injury Epidemiologist and head the Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit in NC where he is Principal Investigator of the NC Violent Death Reporting System, NC Enhanced State Opioid Overdose Surveillance (ESOOS), and NC Prescription Drug Overdose (PDO) project. He is working to build capacity for a general injury surveillance system. He…

Dr. Shabbar I. Ranapurwala, is a PhD and an assistant professor of epidemiology in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and a core faculty at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center. He conducts advanced analytical research in injury and violence prevention, including opioid poisoning prevention, violence prevention, and the application of principles of causal…

Sharon is the Associate Medical Director for Harm Reduction in Health Care at the AIDS Institute, NYSDOH and she is a staff physician at Project Renewal where she prescribes buprenorphine in the setting of a shelter. Dr. Stancliff has been working with people who use drugs since 1990 including provision of primary care, drug treatment,…

Shawn earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1991, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UNC-Greensboro in 2002, and a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership from East Carolina University in 2018.  Shawn is board certified in mental health and psychiatric nursing and has worked in various positions in behavioral…

Sherani is has been the North Carolina Public Health Analyst with Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA program for the past two years, in this role, she supports the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch as an overdose epidemiologist. She is also supporting the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition in implementing a justice-involved overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution program.…

Since 1999, Stephanie Almeida has devoted her adult life to supporting individuals and families affected by substance use.  As a person affected by the war on drugs, Stephanie is a dedicated harm reductionist who meets people where they are at, regardless of their stage of readiness to change. She is credentialed as a NC Certified…

Steven A. Mange serves as Senior Policy & Strategy Counsel to North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, where his current focus is on strategies to address the opioid epidemic. Steve previously worked as Senior Policy Advisor to the Illinois Attorney General, Executive Director of the Illinois Meth Project, and consultant to the National Alliance for…

Dr. Susan M. Kansagra serves as Section Chief of Chronic Disease and Injury for the NC Division of Public Health.   She is trained as a primary care physician and has worked extensively on public health initiatives related to chronic disease and tobacco control.   Her previous roles include serving as Deputy Commissioner of the…

Tim West is Program Supervisor in the Housing and Community Services Division of the Community Development Department for the City of Winston-Salem. He has been with the City since 1992, working in housing and community development with a special focus on ending homelessness. In this work, he coordinates program planning and investment in collaboration with…

Tim is the senior Physician Assistant at the Interdisciplinary Pain Management Center at Womack Army Medical Center. He is a former Army flight medic who deployed globally providing emergency care to injured service members and our allies. Tim became a Physician Assistant serving in the global war on terrorism in Afghanistan as well as counter…

Tom is the Director of DuWell at Duke University since 2008. DuWell addresses the mitigation of risk and the promotion of wellness/resiliency for the undergraduate and graduate/professional students at Duke. Prior to work at Duke, Tom was the Director of the Department of Alcohol and other Substance Abuse Prevention at the University of Connecticut. He…

Vernisha Crawford serves as CEO at Bringing You Excellence(BYE), LLC an organization that provides consulting services, youth program development and workshop facilitation to maximize how organizations positively impact the youth they serve. Vernisha is also the Director for the Charlotte Resilience Project, a community initiative focused on creating AWARENESS of the impact of adverse childhood…

Virgil Hayes lobbies for the NCHRC serving under the title of Advocacy and Program Manager. Prior to this role Virgil served as the Appalachian Harm Reduction Services Coordinator for 22 of the western counties. Virgil was enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania where he received in master’s in social work. Prior to receiving his masters,…