Pain and Addiction Summit

The Pennsylvania Pain and Addiction Summit, now in its sixth year, brings professionals together for a day of sharing expertise and learning from each other about opportunities to approach the treatment of pain and substance use disorder.

Register for the 2024 Summit external website

Learn More about the Summit external website

Keynote Speaker

Jean Bennett, PhD, MSM, MSN, BSN is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Regional Director for Region 3 (PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, WV).

Dr. Bennett’s portfolio spans SAMHSA’s wide array of behavioral health continuum priorities. Dr. Bennett consults with state officials and other stakeholders to promote the use of SAMHSA funded grants, technical assistance, training and other resources. Region 3’s most pressing recent focus areas have been Xylazine, expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder, expanding access to MOUD treatment for individuals in state correctional facilities, and for pregnant and parenting people. Harm Reduction and Naloxone saturation, 988-associated crisis systems of care, prevention, and recovery data, peers and Medicaid are each separate learning collaboratives or have been summits topics. Elevating policy issues by learning from the field is a key priority in Region 3.

Dr. Bennett has also served as the Senior Advisor to the HHS Assistant Secretary for Administration, in Public Health Preparedness and Response roles with HHS, the Veterans Administration in San Francisco, and Childrens’ Hospital Boston. Jean retired as a Navy Nurse Corps Captain after assignments in pediatric, ICU, surgical, medical-oncology, mental health and outpatient settings, and spent 10 years in medical recruiting. Dr. Bennett has four degrees including a PhD in organization and management and has co-authored recent articles on “The Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis,” and “Integrating Evidence-Based Guidelines on Pain and Opioids into Medical School Education.”

About the Conference

The theme of the 2024 Pennsylvania Pain and Addiction Summit is “Access to Care” with the emphasis on the holistic treatment of the patient. During this full-day conference, medical, legal, and law enforcement professionals will discuss the current state of the opioid crisis, share methodology and inter-professional approaches to deal with critical issues, and identify opportunities to approach the treatment of pain and substance abuse. Continuing education hours will be provided.

• DATE: Friday, April 26
• LOCATION: Wilkes University, Stark Learning Center (parking on the Wilkes University campus, details will be emailed closer to event)
• COST: $130 whole day (6 hours of CE), $75 half day (3 hours of CE)

Schedule

• 7-8 AM – Registration & Breakfast
• 8-9 a.m. – Panel Discussion on the Our American Family documentary
  • Captured at a pivotal “nothing to lose” moment over the course of a year, Our American Family is a radically honest portrait of five family members grappling with the legacy of generational addiction as they fight to heal resentments and pull each other out of the deepest depths.
  • Panel Speakers: Bryan and Linda, the parents in the documentary
  • Moderated by Tonyehn Verkitus, Executive Director of the Northeast Counties Medical Society
• 9-9:15 a.m. — Break
• 9:15-10:15 a.m. – Breakout Sessions
  • It's Time To Play! Opioid Use Disorder Jeopardy - Maria Foy, PharmD & Tanya J. Uritsky, Pharm D, CPE
  • Going Beyond Brick and Mortar—Breaking Barriers to Substance Use Disorder Treatment - Philip Moore, D.O., and Andrew Schmitt, LCSW
  • Urine Drug Screening for Addiction Professionals - Donna Eget, DO
• 10:15-10:30 a.m. – Break
• 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions
  • Medical Marijuana in Pennsylvania: Evidence and Perspectives of Health Care Providers - Brian Piper, PhD, MS
  • Buprenorphine for Pain Management - Dominick Trombetta, Pharm.D, BCPS, BCGP
  • Affirming Medical Care for the Trans Community - Corinne Goodwin
• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Lunch and Keynote Speaker (no CE given)
  • Jean Bennett, PhD, MSM, MSN, BSN   Regional Director, SAMHSA Region 3 (PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, WV)
  • SAMHSA’s priorities, initiatives, grants and resources which assist educators, students, providers, and other stakeholders will be highlighted and illustrated with relatable local and regional anecdotes. Providers advocating for expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder and other treatment for all individuals seeking recovery will be another focus on this interactive session. Recent case examples and project successes will be shared which have resulted from stakeholders’ elevation of access concerns and solution-focused collaborations to inspire participants to creatively address evidence based solutions to improving outcomes for individuals served and the rewards of a career dedicated to behavioral health.
• 12:30-12:45 p.m. – Break
• 12:45-1:45 p.m. - Breakout Sessions
  • The Role of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in regulatory oversight and enforcement in those Health Care Providers who have a DEA Registration - James R. Schiffer RPh, Esq. and Carlos Aquino
  • Interdisciplinary Pain Care at the Wilkes-Barre VAMC – Nicholas Field, PharmD, Stephen Gruver, PharmD, Thomas Hanlon, MD, Neil Shah, PharmD, BCPS
  • Professional Impairment: The Lived Experience of Chemically Dependent Male Nurses - Patricia Dittman, PhD, RN, CDE
• 1:45-2 p.m. - Break
• 2-3 p.m. - Breakout Sessions
  • Examination of Multiple Drug Arrests Reported to the Maine Diversion Alert Program - Maaz Siddiqui, Third Year Medical Student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
  • Gambling/Gaming Disorders: The Hidden Problem - Jason Harlen, MA and Stefanie Wolownik, MS
  • Opioid Use Disorder: More Than Just an Opioid Issue - Kelvin Lu, PharmD
• 3-4 p.m. – Fighting to Become Sober –Brian DiMattia, moderated by Bill Corcoran Jr. from #OnTheStacks
• Brian DiMattia is an Assistant Instructor and sales rep at Good Tree MMA and is the Creator of popular Facebook Food review page: DiMattia’s Food Fight. Brian will share his journey to sobriety and how he turned his life around after being addicted to various drugs. When Brian discovered a passion for MMA and fitness, it changed his life both personally and professionally.
• 4-5 p.m. – Networking Reception with Speakers (no CE given)

This program is supported by an educational grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation.