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,…
Suzanne has worked for United Way of Rutherford County since 2008. She helped establish and lead United Way’s substance abuse prevention coalition. The “Community Engagement Team” is now a Year 5 Drug Free Communities grantee. Her grant writing and program development work features numerous collaborative projects with law enforcement and treatment providers which include the…
Mark Wolfson is Professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy at Wake Forest School of Medicine. He has over 25 years of experience in conducting research on substance abuse among youth and young adults, with a particular interest in the role of community-based environmental strategies in prevention. His current research projects include…
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…
Donnie Varnell served as the head of the State Bureau of Investigation’s Diversion and Environmental Crimes Unit before becoming NCHRC’s law enforcement liaison to advocate for naloxone access, connections to care and treatment, and the introduction of Law Enforcement-Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs. He is now an investigator with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office and continues…
Don is a family practitioner from Western North Carolina. His practice now concentrates on the treatment of pain and the treatment of opioid use disorder. Don was the lead facilitator for the expert panel discussion during the development of the CDC guidelines for treating pain. He continues to contract with the CDC on educating prescribers…
Accomplished executive with 30 years of service in public sector healthcare and 15 years of executive/leadership experience. Has broad-based knowledge in behavioral healthcare policy and operations, including large-scale organizational transformation and strategic implementation. Highly competent collaborator with diverse groups, including health plan members, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, consulting organizations and state and local governments.
Dr. Shannon Dowler is Associate Chief of Quality for the Ambulatory Mission Medical Associates practices across 18 Western North Carolina counties. She serves as the Chairperson for the Physician Advisory Group, which advises DMA on clinical policies for the Medicaid program. Nationally, she serves on the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Commission on the Health…
Dr. Craig Martin, the Chief Medical Officer for Vaya Health, is Board Certified in Adult and Child Psychiatry as well as Addiction Medicine. He was formerly on the faculty of Johns Hopkins and has directed TBI/PTSD services for the Navy. He has clinical experience with Collaborative Care, Psychotherapy and Medication Assisted Treatment.
Katie Goetz, LPC, LCAS is the Service Manager of the Recovery Education Centers at Meridian Behavioral Health Services where she works as a supervisor and therapist with those recovering from mental illness and substance abuse challenges. Katie also oversees Meridian’s whole person care projects and initiatives. Katie has had the opportunity to teach CRM skills…