John Bowman, APSS

Kentucky Senior Campaign Organizer, Dream.Org- LOUISA, KY/Oakland, Ca

John Bowman is a dedicated advocate leader and agent of change focused on criminaljustice and drug policy reform in Kentucky With over six years of recovery experience hehas transformed his personal narrative into a professional commitment to improvinglives and reforming systems that affect individuals and communities across the stateA native of Georgetown Kentucky John faced the challenges of addiction from a youngage beginning his struggle with substance use at 13 He battled addiction for 24 yearsbefore making the pivotal decision to seek help In 2018 he entered treatment dedicatinga year to rebuilding his life This journey not only marked the beginning of his recoverybut also ignited a deep desire to help others free themselves from substance usedisorderAfter completing his treatment John became a Peer Support Specialist at ARC where hislived experiences helped to inspire and guide others on their own paths to recoveryFollowing three years at ARC John continued his service by joining MountainComprehensive Care Center where he focused on supporting atrisk youth providingguidance and resources to help them overcome challenges and build brighter futuresCurrently John serves as Kentucky Senior Campaign Organizer for DreamOrg where heleads initiatives aimed at promoting harm reduction reforming the criminal justicesystem and drug policy By collaborating with directly impacted individuals harmreduction specialists law enforcement business leaders and faithbased organizationshe builds and works with coalitions that drive meaningful changeHis work is rooted in a commitment to harm reduction enhancing lives and promotingequitable and compassionate justice for all Kentuckians Johns story is a powerfultestament to resilience redemption and advocacy By merging his personal experienceswith professional knowledge he has established himself as a leading voice for recoveryand reform in Kentucky inspiring many to believe in the potential for change both forthemselves and their communities

Back to top

Katherine Nickol Brill, Voices of Hope -Lexington

Katherine Nickol Brill is a certified Adult Peer Support Specialist at Voices of Hope in Lexington,
Kentucky. Mrs. Brill is a person in long-term recovery from substance use disorder and has been
employed at Voices of Hope since October 2022. Proficient in Spanish, she works under a grant from the
Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, concentrating on recruitment and outreach initiatives
for the BIPOC community. She facilitates a weekly Spanish-speaking SMART Recovery meeting at
Centro de San Juan Diego, a Hispanic community center in Lexington, KY, as well as a weekly Spanish-
speaking online Harm Reduction Works Meeting. Nickol engages in outreach to marginalized
communities via the Voices of Hope Mobile Outreach Recovery program, where she facilitates recovery
coaching sessions, distributes naloxone, harm reduction supplies, hygiene products, cold weather apparel,
and essential food items. Nickol enjoys engaging with marginalized individuals, meeting them where they
are, and offering empathetic, evidence-based recovery support services.

Back to top

John Broadus Jr., PhD

Dr. John D. Broadus Jr. is an Applied Sociologist and public health professional with extensive
experience in health equity, substance use prevention, and youth advocacy. He currently serves
as the Statewide Overdose Prevention Liaison seconded to the Kentucky Department of Public
Health through Vital Strategies, where he leads health equity initiatives aimed at reducing
disparities in drug overdoses across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Dr. Broadus completed his Ph.D. in Applied Sociology at the University of Louisville, with a
major focus on Race & Ethnicity and a minor in Intersectionality (Race, Class, & Gender). His
dissertation, "The Voices Behind the Screen: Navigating the Politics of Work-Time, Identity,
Visibility, and Tokenism in the Workplace," explores the lived experiences of marginalized
professionals navigating complex work environments. He also holds a Master of Science in
Criminal Justice with a concentration in Public Service Leadership and Social Justice from
Campbellsville University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Ashford University.
Over the past decade, Dr. Broadus has held progressive leadership roles in behavioral health,
youth services, and state government. His contributions include designing community-level
substance use prevention programs, overseeing regional prevention strategies, and leading cross-
sector collaborations on social justice and public health. He has served in key roles at the
Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Seven Counties Services, and NewVista Regional
Prevention Center. His work is grounded in research, equity, and community-based practice.
Dr. Broadus has presented at numerous state and regional conferences and is a co-author of the
publication "Unprecedented Times: Louisville Youth/Young Adults of Color Responding to the
Twin Pandemics of COVID-19 and Racism." His thought leadership has also appeared in outlets
such as the Courier Journal, where he advocates for inclusive education and equity.
Dr. Broadus is an active member of the Association of Black Sociologists, the American
Sociological Association, and Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society.
With a professional ethos rooted in integrity, inclusion, and impact, Dr. Broadus continues to
drive meaningful change at the intersection of research, policy, and community empowerment.

Back to top

David Brumett, AAS

Program Manager, Voices of Hope

David Brumett, a Recovery Implementation Specialist with the Kentucky Overdose Response Effort at the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. David brings a strong background in recovery support, having previously served as Program Manager at Voices of Hope in Lexington, where he oversaw seven recovery and outreach programs, including mobile teams in both Lexington and Louisville.
As a person in long-term recovery, David is deeply committed to expanding access to recovery support and harm reduction services across Kentucky. He is currently pursuing a degree in social work and remains dedicated to advancing recovery and wellness for all.

Back to top

Madeline Burgess

Program Coordinator for the Medical Reserve Corps Program at the Kentucky Department for Public Health

Madeline Burgess has served as the Program Coordinator for the Medical Reserve Corps Program at the Kentucky Department for Public Health since February 2024. With a strong foundation in community health and emergency preparedness, she brings both passion and expertise to supporting volunteer response efforts across the state. Madeline holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from Murray State University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration to further her commitment to public service and leadership in the health sector.

Back to top

Lauren Carr, BS

Opioid Settlement Advisor
Kentucky Association of Counties

Lauren is from Graves County Kentucky, and graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelors of
Science in Organizational Communication. Lauren began working in the public health field in 2015 after
her brother, Justin, passed away from a fentanyl overdose in 2011. After his death, it opened her eyes to
the stigma and barriers faced by people who have a substance use disorder. Ever since, Lauren has been
working in various substance use prevention initiatives and harm reduction capacities to reduce
overdose, prevent the spread of infectious disease, and advocate for Kentuckians who suffer from
substance use disorder. At her time at Graves County ASAP, she created a drug free youth coalition,
Mayfield Graves County ASAP Youth Council, which has provided evidence-based prevention strategies
to youth in the community with such events as Friday Night Done Right and You Are Loved suicide
awareness campaign. Five years ago, during a community assessment it was brought up that used
syringes were being found at various locations throughout the town. Lauren was instrumental in
researching, presenting, and passing one of the first syringe exchange program in Western Kentucky.
Lauren resides in Mayfield, KY where she is very involved with her community. She has served on
Mayfield City Council since 2020 and in her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, friends,
hiking, and tending to her houseplants.

Back to top

Ashley Carroll, MPH

Ashley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Health Science from Messiah University. She then pursued a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Systems and Policy Analytics at the University of Kentucky. Since June 2022, Ashley has been working with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). She initially served as an intern for the Center for Foundational Health for one year before being hired as the Local Health Department (LHD) Workforce Training Program Administrator in May 2023.
The Center for Foundational Health focuses on developing and implementing ongoing initiatives to recruit, hire, train, and sustain a competent and diverse public health workforce ready to respond to projected public health needs and priorities. In her role, Ashley provides support to the Kentucky Health Departments Association (KHDA) on LHD-related workforce development initiatives. Additionally, she coordinates with KDPH and other organizations to support training, education, and professional development initiatives for LHD employees.

Back to top

Tenisha Castle, Student, University of Alabama

Currently living in Morgan County Kentucky where I have lived all my life. I am a graduate from Morgan County High School and a current Freshman at the University of Alabama majoring in Addiction and Recovery. During high school I was president of MCHS Student Council and 4-H Teen Club, and active in the National Honors Society. I am a Local Title Holder for the Miss Kentucky organization and the Miss America Opportunity. In 2023 I lost my father during his recovery journey with drug addiction leading me to create my service initiative Don’t Miss the Mark where I share the physical, mental, and emotional mark left by addiction. Through my service initiative I take part in community events centered around recovery and visit recovery centers across Kentucky to share the story about the Mark and how my father’s addiction affected me as his daughter, along with leading groups in making vision boards.

Back to top

Cyndee Clay

Executive Director
HIPS

Cyndee Clay has passionately fought for the health, rights, safety, and self-determination for people who are engaged in underground economies and the power of harm reduction based approaches to stigmatized and criminalized behavior. She is an internationally recognized expert with over 20 years experience in program development, nonprofit management, and evaluation for improving the health and safety of people who use drugs and people who engage in sex work. She is a graduate of the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program at UCLA Business School, served as an Advocate in Residence at Yale University’s Global Health Studies Initiative, and convened DC’s first working group on drug user health. She has also served as the community co-chair for both DC’s HIV Prevention Planning Group and the DC Regional Commission on Health & HIV, and served as a community representative for the Urban Coalition of HIV/AIDS Prevention Services (UCHAPS), the DC

Back to top

Monica Clouse, MPH, CPH

Program Manager
Kentucky Perinatal Quality Collaborative (KyPQC)
Lexington, Kentucky

Ms. Monica Clouse received her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Kentucky in May of 2009. From 2010 to 2019, she worked as an epidemiologist in Kentucky’s Department for Public Health (KDPH), within the Division of Maternal and Child Health (MCH). In October 2019, Ms. Clouse joined the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) serving as a Local Field Placement in Kentucky. In this role, she worked to enhance the KDPH’s capacity to develop and implement goals in critical areas for Kentucky’s Opioid Use Disorder, Maternal Outcome, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Initiative (OMNI) and assisted Kentucky in establishing a Perinatal Quality Collaborative. Ms. Clouse is now employed with the University of Kentucky and serves as the Program Manager of Kentucky’s Perinatal Quality Collaborative (KyPQC). Ms. Clouse has received her Certification in Public Health (CPH).

Back to top

Issabella Cornett, Student

Issabella Cornett is a senior at Graves County High School and serves as the president of the Graves County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP). With a deep commitment to tobacco prevention and substance abuse prevention, Issabella has actively participated in numerous conferences and events focused on youth advocacy and public health. Her passion for making a difference in her community was recognized when she received the prestigious Champion Award in March 2025 for her outstanding contributions to substance abuse prevention efforts.

Through her leadership role in ASAP, Issabella has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and to promote healthier choices among her peers. She continues to be a dedicated advocate for tobacco control, drawing from both personal experience and a desire to create lasting change within her school and community.

Back to top

Shane Crowe Jr.

Shane Crowe is an 18-year-old senior at Louisville Male High School. He has been a dedicated participant of Sowing Seeds with Faith since 2020 and now serves as a Junior Mentor, guiding and supporting younger youth in the program. Shane is also a Teen Talk panelist, using his voice to uplift and advocate for his peers.

Back to top

Amanda Fallin-Bennett, PhD, RN

Associate Professor
University of Kentucky College of Nursing
Lexington, Kentucky

Amanda Fallin-Bennett, PhD, RN, is a passionate advocate for harm reduction, recovery,
and evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders and tobacco. She is a co-
investigator on the NIDA funded University of Kentucky HEALing Communities Study (PI
Walsh) and the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN; PI Staton). Her role
in these studies is to oversee the implementation recovery coaching programs that are
designed to reduce opioid overdose death through linkage to and retention on medications
for opioid use disorder. Across these two large scale studies, she helped implemented
recovery coach led MOUD linkage and retention in over 80 agencies (e.g, syringe service
programs, harm reduction housing services, opioid treatment programs) across 20
Kentucky counties with high overdose rates. Dr. Fallin-Bennett is on the leadership team of
the Survivors Union of the Bluegrass, a University of Kentucky Community Advisory Board
made up of people who use drugs and people in non-abstinence based recovery.

Back to top

Eric Friedlander

Secretary
Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Frankfort, Kentucky

Eric Friedlander is an accomplished mission driven executive with 40 years of experience leading and managing complex organizations in challenging and politically charged environments at the state, local and federal level. Appointed by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to serve as Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) in December of 2019, Friedlander is responsible for over 8,000 employees in more than 150 locations including all 120 Kentucky counties and manages a budget exceeding $24 billion in FY 2024-2025. Key areas housed within CHFS include Medicaid, Public Health, Aging and Independent Living, Health Policy, Community Based Services (social services/low-income benefit programs), and Behavioral Health, Substance Use and Intellectual Disabilities. During his tenure as Cabinet Secretary, he also led through the COVID -19 Pandemic and subsequent economic, cultural and natural disaster recovery efforts. With a mission to be a diverse and inclusive cabinet providing programs, services and supports that protect and promote the health and well-being of all Kentuckians and their communities, Friedlander has built a strong leadership team with a relentless focus on caring for Kentuckians which has moved the CHFS culture to be a strong, trauma informed, resilient and equitable organization.
Friedlander previously served in the role of Chief Resiliency Officer for Metro Louisville government as a part of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative of the Rockerfeller Foundation. In that role he also served as the Director the Louisville’s Office of Resilience and Community Services overseeing programs serving marginalized populations either due to homelessness, poverty, or food insecurity.
Friedlander, of Louisville, has committed his life to public service since 1985 and has served in various roles within CHFS across both Democratic and Republican administrations. He is a graduate of Antioch (Ohio) College and is known for his storytelling, singing, green thumb and penchant for pies. He and his spouse, Indigo Friedlander (ceramicist), have three dogs, and 4 cats.

Back to top

Katie Gardner, RN, BSN

Kentucky Department of Public Health - Viral Hepatitis Program - Program Coordinator

Katie Gardner, RN, BSN, is a public health nurse and health educator with 17 years of experience in
clinical care, including harm reduction and infectious disease care and prevention. Katie received
her RN at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in 2007 and her Bachelors Degree in Nursing
from Eastern Kentucky University in 2022. Katie currently serves on the board of the Kentucky Youth
Health Network, which works to create public awareness of health risks and promote healthy
outcomes for Kentucky youth. In her current role as Program Coordinator for the Viral Hepatitis
Program at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Katie focuses on increasing hepatitis C
education and care in communities most impacted by hepatitis C and the opioid epidemic.

Back to top

Kamya Harper, Student, Butler Traditional High School

Kamya Harper, a senior at Butler Traditional High School in Louisville, Kentucky. Kamya is a varsity volleyball player and an active member of Sowing Seeds with Faith. She shares her voice as a Teen Talk panelist, using her platform to uplift and advocate for her peers.

Back to top

Brooke Hiltz, JD

Brooke Hiltz, JD, is a Research Project Manager with the University of Kentucky, where she currently
coordinates multiple grant funded substance use-related harm reduction research projects in
collaboration with faculty researchers and community organizations. Her work includes engaging and
interfacing with a wide variety of external partners, collaborating with internal university departments to
navigate contracts, research budgets, and IRB requirements, drafting and implementing standard
operating procedures, providing grant writing support, and supervising staff. She previously co-
coordinated community engagement efforts for the NIDA-funded HEALing Community Study (HCS) in
Kentucky (KY), an ambitious $87 million, community-engaged study to reduce opioid overdose deaths in
67 communities (16 counties in Kentucky, including 7 in Appalachian KY). In that role, Brooke co-
managed more than 20 staff and the establishment of 16 community coalitions. Before entering
research, Brooke worked in other higher education roles for 18 years, and prior to that served as an
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney (felony prosecutor) for two Kentucky counties. In all her professional
endeavors, Brooke has performed extensive community engagement, working directly with corporate,
government, and non-profit entities and individuals working in those settings.

Back to top

Caitlyn Hood, PhD

Project Director, Kentucky Overdose Response Effort (KORE)

Dr Hood is dedicated to expanding access to highquality researchbacked interventions to tackle the overdose crisis in Kentucky As the Project Director of KORE she leads efforts to reduce overdose deaths by building and sustaining a comprehensive equitable and recoveryfocused system of care With a background as a licensed clinical psychologist and implementation scientist she works to bridge the gap between what has been proven to work through research and what services are actually available in realworld settings In addition to her role at KORE Dr Hood serves as an Assistant Director in the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities DBHDID She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the College of Charleston 2014 followed by a Master of Science 2019 and PhD 2022 in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky She completed her clinical psychology internship at the Charleston Consortium where she trained at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center specializing in evidencebased treatments for traumatic stress and substance use Dr Hood is also a published researcher with more than 30 peerreviewed articles on cognitivebehavioral interventions for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders

Back to top

James House, MEP

Naloxone Distribution/Mobile Harm Reduction Program Administrator
Division of Public Health Protection and Safety
Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ Kentucky Department for Public Health
Frankfort, Kentucky

James House has been a resident of Kentucky since 2002. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
James has worked for the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) since December 2007. During
his years of employment with the Department, he has served as the Exercise Program Coordinator,
Emergency Support Function #8 Planning Coordinator, Hospital Preparedness Program Manager, Public
Health Preparedness Director and Mobile Harm Reduction Program Administrator. Currently, he is the
Health Program Administrator for the Center for Foundational Health (C4FH) / Workforce Director for
the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) responsible for developing public health career pathway
programs and initiatives through the Division of Public Health Protection and Safety. James supervises
eight employees and serves as the Chairperson of the Public Health Workforce Readiness Subcommittee
and Co-Chair of the Kentucky Public Health Association’s Workforce Development Committee.
Prior to his employment with KDPH, James worked for the Lake Cumberland District Health Department,
Somerset, KY from 2003 to 2007. He served as the supervisor of a multi-disciplinary team that developed
emergency operation plans and conducted preparedness-related training and exercises throughout a 10-
county region.
James served 21 years with the United States Navy from 1980 to 2001 specializing in the field of Preventive
Medicine and Environmental Health. During his last tour with the Navy, James served as the Senior
Instructor for the Preventive Medicine Technician School in San Diego CA.

Back to top

Jody Jaggers, PharmD

Director of Pharmacy Public Health Programs
Kentucky Pharmacy Education & Research Foundation
Frankfort, Kentucky

Jody Jaggers has served as Director of Pharmacy Public Health Programs at the Kentucky Pharmacy Education and Research Foundation since October 2018 and the Director of Pharmacy Emergency Preparedness from April 2017 to October 2018. He is responsible for the operations of Kentucky’s Mobile Harm Reduction Pharmacy via the Opioid Data to Action (OD2A) grant as well as distribution of naloxone through the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE) grant as well as naloxone distribution to law enforcement agencies across the state as part of funding from the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP). Prior to joining KPhA, Dr. Jaggers worked 13 years as a community pharmacist in both chain and independent pharmacy settings with experience as a staff pharmacist and pharmacy manager. He completed his undergraduate degree at Western Kentucky University in 2000 and his Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Kentucky in 2005. Originally from Elizabethtown, Dr. Jaggers currently resides in Versailles, Kentucky, with his wife and two children. He is ordained as a deacon and is an active member at Versailles Baptist Church and is currently the treasurer of the Board of Directors at Woodford Christian School.

Back to top

Stephanie Johnson

Community Organizer, VOCAL-KY

Stephanie Johnson is an ecstatic, outgoing individual with a deep passion for advocacy organizing. She is highly adaptable and excels in handling diverse situations, ensuring accurate documentation and timely report preparation. Stephanie is well-versed in providing helpful answers and suggestions to those in need or with concerns. Her proven history of building trust with community members has enabled her to promote healing and resolve traumatic situations, earning her long-term loyalty.

Stephanie's educational background includes a Medical Office Management program at Sullivan University and a GED from Ahren's Vocational. Her professional experience is extensive, currently serving as the Statewide Coordinator for VOCAL-KY, where she builds and maintains relationships with partner organizations, conducts statewide outreach, organizes events, and participates in planning teams for civil rights and harm reduction. Previously, she worked as a GROW Team Canvasser for VOCAL-KY, engaging in daily outreach to individuals impacted by homelessness, mass incarceration, the drug war, and HIV/AIDS/HepC, while also educating on policy and lobbying at the State Capitol.

Stephanie holds several certificates and awards, including CPR & AED, Trauma Resiliency, Women of Color Cohort, and the Empathy Award. Her dedication to advocacy and community support is evident in her work and the recognition she has received.

Back to top

Scott Lockard, MSW, CSW

Public Health Director for the Kentucky River District Health Department

Scott Lockard has served as the Public Health Director for the Kentucky River District Health Department since January of 2018. He has over 34 years’ experience in public health. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Masters Degree in Social Work. Prior to coming to KY River District, he served as the Director of the Clark County Health Department for 12 years. He has served as adjunct faculty in the College of Social Work at Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky. He is a 2006 graduate of the Kentucky Public Health Leadership Institute and a 2011 graduate of the National Public Health Leadership Institute. He is a past president of the Kentucky Public Health Association and the Kentucky Health Departments Association. He was the 2010 recipient of the KHDA Trailblazer Award, the 2014 recipient of the KHDA Outstanding Public Health Director of the Year, the 2017 recipient of the KHDA Lifetime Achievement Award, a 2019 recipient of the UK College of Social Work Unsung Hero Award, the 2020 recipient of the Perry County Chamber Health Hero Award, and a 2023 KY Chapter of the NASW Social Justice Star.

Back to top

David Lucas, MSW

Senior Technical Advisor, Overdose Prevention

David Lucas is an accomplished harm reduction expert, addiction counselor, and technical
advisor specializing in public health and criminal legal system reform. His work spans direct
clinical support, academic instruction, and high-level technical assistance to state and local
stakeholders. He brings a deep commitment to person-centered care, health equity, and drug
policy reform, with extensive experience bridging the criminal legal and healthcare systems.

Back to top

Mira Mirzaian, MPH

Epidemiologist
Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center
College of Public Health
Lexington, KY

Mira Mirzaian, MPH, is an epidemiologist with the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC). She earned her Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) from the University of Kentucky in 2018. She later pursued her Masters of Public Health (MPH) through the University of Kentucky as well, graduating in 2021 with a concentration in epidemiology. She is a trainee of the Central Appalachian Regional Education and Research Center (CARERC), sponsored through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), with a focus on the health and safety of agricultural populations. Since 2021, she has been an epidemiologist with KIPRC working in the Drug Overdose Technical Assistance Core (DOTAC) as well as with the Fletcher Group’s Rural Center of Excellence (RCOE). Her current research interests are in drug overdose, recovery housing, injury prevention, and occupational health.

Back to top

Shauna O'nan Traylor, APSS

Harm Reduction Director, Jessamine County Health Department

Shauna ONan Traylors life story is one of profound transformation marked by her journeyfrom addiction to recovery Her experience serves as a testament to the power ofresilience hope and the unwavering support of loved onesLife in AddictionShaunas struggle with addiction began after suffering a major trauma at the age of 10years old Following two serious car accidents her mother was led to call CPS andresulting in the loss of custody of her children for the second time She left her secondhusband for her drug dealer and within months they were arrested together By the age of37 Shauna found herself before the court on drug charges starting a cycle of arrests andmiseryThe first time Shauna lost custody was in 2010 She worked diligently on her case plan andregained custody only to replace one addiction with another becoming an alcoholic Hersecond loss of custody meant complete separation from her family and children plungingher into a threeyear spiral of drug use that offered no relief By January 2018 Shauna wasterminated from Drug Court and despite her intentions to change she relapsed within 45minutes of her release on shock probationMoment of Clarity and Path to RecoveryBy May 2018 Shauna experienced desperate hopelessness Cut off from her family andisolated she had a moment of clarity where she was given a vision that foresaw the direconsequences of her choices On May 18 2018 she entered treatment at Step Works andsoon after Hope in the Mountains Her journey through treatment led her to live inPrestonsburg until just before Christmas when she moved back in with her parentsLife in RecoveryToday Shauna has rebuilt her life with honesty dependability responsibility anddedication to recovery She has mended her relationships with her parents and two youngadult sons making living amends every day Her sons now trust and depend on her withone embarking on a beautiful life with his bridetobe and the other excelling as a Division1 football athleteShaunas recovery has not only been a personal blessing but has also enabled her to givehope to others struggling with addiction She uses her pain and experiences to aidindividuals and families demonstrating that recovery is possible and that shame can betransformed into a powerful tool for healingShauna is now a college student at UK with a 39 GPA and works fulltime at a theJessamine County Health Department as the Harm Reductio Director She lives in herparents threebedroom apartment and has started the process of buying her first homewhile still providing support to her parents whenever needed Her relationships with herloved ones are her most prized possession reflecting the incredible journey she hasundertakenShauna ONan Traylors story is a beacon of hope for anyone facing the darkness ofaddiction Her unwavering commitment to recovery and her family highlights thetransformative power of resilience and love

Back to top

Shameka Parrish-Wright, BA, BS

Director
VOCAL-KY
Louisville, Kentucky

Shameka Parrish-Wright is the Director of VOCAL-KY – a newly launched organization dedicated to ending AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness by building the political power of people directly impacted by those issues. A mother of three, Shameka has personally struggled through homelessness and the criminal justice system.
Shameka has a long history of community organizing and social justice work. Until this summer she was the Operations Manager for “The Bail Project” dedicated to disrupting mass incarceration and reforming the unjust bail system. She recently ran for Mayor of Louisville, where she came in second.
Shameka has a degree in Human Resources from the University of Louisville. She is the Co-Chair of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression. She was appointed Human Relations Commissioner by the Mayor of Louisville. Additionally, Shameka has held and still holds, leadership positions with many organizations such as: Kentucky Jobs with Justice, LaCasita Center Board, Continuum of Care Board of the Homeless Coalition, The Anne & Carl Braden Memorial Center, Louisville Books to Prisoners Program, Justice Now, and Sowers of Justice Network.

Back to top

Kyndall Raburn, BS

Public Health Associate
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Kentucky Department for Public Health
Frankfort, Kentucky

Kyndall is a Public Health Associate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assigned to the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) working in Opioid Response and Harm Reduction.

She serves as a program coordinator for the Harm Reduction Mobile Unit and Harm Reduction Events coordinating and organizing events to dispense Narcan and conduct human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing. Kyndall also serves as the Planning Section Chief for the annual Kentucky Harm Reduction Summit.

Prior to working for the CDC, Kyndall worked for a large non-profit organization in Atlanta serving as a Community Program Coordinator for a variety of health promotion programs serving the youth.

Kyndall graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Health Promotion and Behavior. She has an interest in program planning and community outreach, specifically among populations with Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

Back to top

Marshall Scott, APSS

Marshall is an individual in long term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder and severe mental illness. He currently works through a Department of Corrections Grant providing Peer Services, Recovery Coaching, and mutual aid meeting facilitation at the NorthPoint Training Center, a medium security state correctional facility in Danville, Kentucky.

Back to top

Chris Smith, BSN, RN

Overdose Prevention Program Manager
Kentucky Department for Public Health

Chris Smith, RN-BSN is the Overdose Prevention Liaison at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, seconded to the Department by Vital Strategies.
Working as an Emergency Medical Technician and a Registered Nurse in rural and urban Kentucky, he saw first-hand the limits of stigmatized approaches to the harms associated with substance use. This led to his career transition to public health and harm reduction. Working closely with people who use drugs in a Syringe Service Program, he learned to center lived and living experience in health promotion and to advocate for evidence-based interventions based on Harm Reduction principles. Chris is proud to be working with the KDPH Harm Reduction Program, sharing these strategies across the Commonwealth. In this role, he manages the statewide naloxone access portal FindNaloxoneNowKY.org, while working strategically with government partners and community-based organizations to develop and coordinate Overdose Education and Naloxone
Distribution across the commonwealth.

Back to top

Adam Trosper, MSW

Adam currently serves as the State Overdose Coordinator under the Kentucky Overdose
Response Effort (KORE) project within Kentucky’s Department for Behavioral Health,
Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID). With a focus on interagency partnership
and collaboration, he administers the State Opioid Response (SOR) program aimed at addressing
the overdose crisis. Adam began his work in behavioral health working with, and advocating
for, children with severe emotional disturbances and their families through Communicare’s
IMPACT Program. He started with DBHDID in 2012, as a Regional Suicide Prevention
Coordinator with the Suicide Prevention Efforts for Adolescents in Kentucky (SPEAK) grant,
providing training, resources, and advocacy to address youth suicide in the Lincoln Trail Region.
Later he served as a Program Administrator with the Adult Substance Use Treatment and
Recovery Services Branch with a focus on recovery housing and faith-based initiatives. In 2007,
Adam received his B.A. in Sociology from Centre College in Danville, KY, and went on to
obtain his Masters of Social Work from Western Kentucky University in 2017. Adam is an
experienced trainer and facilitator, having trained numerous individuals and communities in
various topics, including suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, as well as substance
use treatment and recovery. He is a certified instructor Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid
(MHFA), Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), and Substance Use Disorder Peer Support
Specialist training.

Back to top

Tasha Turner-Bicknell, DNP, RN, CPH

As a harm reductionist, population health nurse, and member of the board of directors for Harm
Reduction Ohio, I have a long-standing demonstrated commitment to improving access to health
services for people who use drugs. I have extensive experience in harm reduction including
syringe service programs, overdose prevention, capacity building, mobile outreach, and
legislative advocacy. I am committed to equity, social justice, and healthcare reform. I
understand the importance of developing population health interventions that provide low-
threshold services to meet populations on their own terms.
Areas of interest: harm reduction, drug user health, public health, global health and health
disparities

Back to top

Marie Vice, APSS CCHW PPS TCM

University of Kentucky
PATHways Program

Marie Vice is a Certified Community Health Worker CCHW Peer Prevention Specialist Targeted Case Manager and Adult Peer Support Specialist with over ten years of experience working with individuals who are affected by Substance Use Disorders SUD Marie currently works as a CCHW and Prevention Specialist for the University of Kentuckys Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department in a program titled UK PATHways which specializes in treating pregnant women with substance use disorders and medication assisted treatment Marie has also worked to implement Recovery Dynamics Opioid Use Disorder OUD education Medication for Opioid Use Disorder MOUD education specialist and Harm Reduction education along with many other topics related to SUD OUD MOUD Recovery Education and harm reductionprevention Marie Vice is currently working towards a BASW in Social Work through the University of Kentuckys College of Social Work with a working GPA of 38 Marie holds her Associate in Arts in Humanities from Maysville Community Technical College Marie has worked tirelessly to help others in recovery while specializing in pregnant women with OUD and MOUD services Marie has presented to the Congress Committee insert here to inform policymakers of the importance and barriers in treating pregnant women with SUD in the state of Kentucky Marie has presented at the Morehead Perinatal Conference Early Childhood Conference Peer Support Specialists Voices of Hope Conference and many more trainings and events When Marie is not working to help pregnant women with substance use disorders you can find her spending time with her family playing with her dogs Beau Charlie Daisy Mae and enjoying the outdoors either hiking swimming or gem hunting

Back to top

Shreeta Waldon, MA, LCADC

Executive Director
Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition

Education and Licensure: Shreeta Waldon received her Bachelor of Arts from Clark Atlanta University and her Masters in Professional Counseling, from Argosy University, Illinois. She received her Licensure as Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in 2016 and renewed her certification as a board approved supervisor with the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors in 2023.

Experience: Shreeta is currently the Executive Director of Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition. With her 17 years of experience in the social services arena, she is recognized as an expert in the field of substance use disorder treatment and prevention. Within her role, she has been requested to present at local and national conferences and symposiums, as she is seen as a major influence of innovative approaches. Her influence has allowed her to speak at the legislative hearings on topics around race and access, and the poverty. As a visionary leader, Shreeta has taken a grassroots agency that is built on the premise of meeting people where they are and leverages this principle in expanding beyond the Jefferson county line, to touch Kentuckians throughout the entire state.

Back to top

Allison Webb, BSN, RN, SANE

Head Nurse Manager
Labor & Delivery, Postpartum, and Newborn Nursery Units
Harlan ARH Hospital
Harlan, Kentucky.

Allison Webb is the Head Nurse Manager of The Labor & Delivery, Postpartum, and Newborn Nursery Units at Harlan ARH Hospital in Harlan, Kentucky. She is a graduate of King University in Bristol, Tennessee. With a nursing career spanning over 30 years, she has held various roles including supervisory and management roles, Basic Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation instructor, Infection Prevention, Certified Diabetic Educator, and most recently Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Although her experience is varied across healthcare areas, most of her career has been focused in Obstetrical, Maternal, and Nursery care. She introduced and headed new initiatives for Harlan’s ARH’s participation in KyPQC (Kentucky Perinatal Quality Collaborative). Harlan ARH is a KyPQC 1st Pilot Cohort Award recipient for substance use disorder screening among pregnant women, data collection, and intervention.

Back to top

Riley Beth Willett, BS, MBA

Riley Beth Willett is the Public Health Director of the Graves County Health
Department in Mayfield, Kentucky. She has been with the department since January 2016,
beginning her career as a Health Educator. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Murray
State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of the
Cumberlands.
Passionate about public health, Riley Beth found fulfillment in educating youth,
collaborating with organizations and businesses, and engaging with the community. In
August 2021, she stepped into the role of Public Health Director, facing an immediate
challenge when a devastating EF-4 tornado struck Mayfield and Graves County on
December 10, 2021. As a new leader, she had to respond swiftly to protect public health
and continues to navigate the long-term recovery of her community.
A Graves County native, Riley Beth is deeply committed to serving her hometown.
She has been married to her husband, Tyler, for 10 years, and they have three sons—Ben
(6), Bo (5), and Banks (7 months). Her mission is to foster a stronger, healthier community
by implementing programs and initiatives that improve overall well-being.

Back to top

April Young, PhD, MPH

Professor
Department of Epidemiology
University of Kentucky College of Public Health
Lexington, Kentucky

April M. Young, PhD is a Professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health and the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research. Dr. Young’s research focuses primarily on substance use and related harms in rural communities. She has been conducting substance use research in rural Appalachian Kentucky for more than ten years. She has authored and co-authored more than 90 publications, nearly all of which are on topics related to substance use, HIV, hepatitis C, overdose, and sexually transmitted infections. She has also led or co-led six studies funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Young also leads the Community Engagement team for the HEALing Communities Study in Kentucky, an ambitious initiative to reduce opioid related overdose deaths in sixteen Kentucky counties.

Back to top

Jon Zibbell, PhD

Senior Public Health Scientist, Behavioral Health Research Division
RTI International
Adjunct Professor
Center for the Study of Human Health, Anthropology
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Jon Zibbell, PhD. is a senior scientist in the Center for Behavioral Health Epidemiology, Implementation & Evaluation Research at RTI International where he conducts behavioral epidemiological research on risk factors and health outcomes associated with the illicit drug use. Dr. Zibbell is a medical anthropologist with 20+ years of field experience conducting mixed methods research with people who inject drugs (PWID). He is PI of a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded, Fentanyl Overdose Response and Community Engagement (FORCE) study in the proposed study sites in North Carolina. Dr. Zibbell is also multiple PI (MPI) for the NIH-funded fentanyl test strip (FTS) study conducted in Greensboro, NC, and Morgantown, WV. Before coming to RTI, Dr. Zibbell worked as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health scientist in the Divisions of Viral Hepatitis and Unintentional Injury Prevention where he conducted epidemiological and surveillance research on viral hepatitis and drug overdose. As a CDC health scientist, Dr. Zibbell was the lead qualitative investigator for fentanyl outbreak investigations in Massachusetts and Ohio in 2016 and qualitative lead for CDC’s Scott County HIV outbreak investigation in Austin, IN. Dr. Zibbell was a member of the 2015 White House Heroin Task Force and helped the Obama Administration develop its heroin response strategy. He was also appointed to the CDC committee that developed HHS guidelines for the federal government’s funding of syringe service programs. In addition to research, Dr. Zibbell has conducted rapid ethnographic needs assessments for community-based harm reduction programs and continues to assist states and community organizations in developing evidence-based approaches to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the HCV and overdose epidemics. Dr. Zibbell has published extensively on the negative health outcomes associated with substance use disorders and injection drug use and he holds a joint, adjunct appointment in the Center for the Study of Human Health and the Department of Anthropology at Emory University.

Back to top