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 the way we prevent and treat chronic diseases, including addiction. Dr. Powell received her Ph.D. from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Prior to that, Dr. Powell worked as a Junior Policy Associate for The New York Academy of Medicine, supporting the NYS Department of Health obesity prevention coalition and policy center. She earned her BA from Princeton University, where she studied the neuroscience of addiction.
When she can, Dr. Powell spends time enjoying NC’s outdoors biking, camping, and rock climbing.