John P. McGovern Award for Excellence in Medical Education
Julia H. Arnsten, MD, MPH
Dr. Arnsten is an extraordinary leader, researcher, educator, and mentor, with a deep and long-standing commitment to improving the lives of people with substance use disorders. For over two decades, she has been instrumental in expanding the scope and number of trainees and physicians who focus on research, education, and prevention and treatment of substance use disorders and their consequences, including HIV and Hepatitis C Virus infection. ~Chinazo Cunningham MD, MS
Read Julia’s bio
Betty Ford Award
Peggy Compton, PhD, RN, FAAN
Through her innovative research and extensive addiction clinical practice, Dr. Compton’s scholarship has contributed to a greater understanding of the management of chronic pain in persons with opioid use disorders. Dr. Compton is also an outstanding mentor. Hundreds of students in the health professions have benefitted from her enthusiasm and skill. ~Carol J. Boyd PhD, MSN, RN
Professor Peggy Compton established a well-funded and progressive program of research on the interface of pain and opioid addiction. Her early work has evolved to new insights around the experience of pain, risks associated with opioid therapeutics and pain treatment for persons with addiction. A well published and internationally recognized nurse scholar, she has built strong interprofessional networks of collaborators with whom she has contributed to guidelines for professional practice and opioid policy. ~Madeline Naegle PhD, CNS-PMH, BC, FAAN
Read Peggy’s bio
Anderson Spickard, Jr. Excellence in Mentorship Award
Joanna L. Starrels, MD, MS, FACP
Dr. Joanna L. Starrels is a tremendous mentor, role model, and champion and I’m delighted to introduce her as the recipient of the AMERSA W. Anderson Spickard, Jr. Excellence in Mentorship Award for 2020. Dr. Starrels is a nationally recognized expert on prescription opioid use and misuse, having received NIDA funding for 9 consecutive years. Her commitment to mentoring is exemplified by her impressive body of work: 26 mentees to date, resulting in over 40 presentations, 20 published manuscripts, and 11 successful funding applications. She has been a major influence on many research careers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and across the country, including my own, and I am proud to see her awarded for her exemplary work. ~Hector Perez MD, MS
Read Joanna’s bio
New Investigator Award
Scott E. Hadland, MD, MPH, MS
Scott is the perfect phenotype for the New Investigator Award – not only has he published important addiction research and thoughtful commentaries, but he contributes by outstanding mentoring and taking on major organizational roles [eg, AMERSA National Conference Program Director]. He is on an excellent trajectory and recognition by this award is most deserving. ~Jeffrey H. Samet MD, MA, MPH
Read Scott’s bio
David C. Lewis, MD Service to AMERSA Award
Hoover Adger, Jr., MD, MPH
Dr. Hoover Adger’s long, distinguished service to AMERSA includes being Associate Director of AMERSA’s Strategic Plan to advise the federal government on inclusion of substance use training in education for the health professions, contributing a chapter for the Project MAINSTREAM curriculum, serving as President for two years, chairing the Fellowship Committee for three years and serving on the Editorial Board of the journal Substance Abuse for eighteen years. ~Marianne Marcus EdD, RN, FAAN
Read Hoover’s bio
Marianne Marcus Nursing Award
Brayden N. Kameg, DNP, PMHNP-BC, CARN, CNE
The Marianne Marcus Award recognizes a Registered Nurse who is committed to substance use clinical practice, research, or education. This year’s recipient, Dr. Brayden Kameg is a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) and certified addictions RN. She was chosen for this award due to her demonstrated dedication and efforts to prevent substance use disorders through early screening of at-risk patients and her continued dedication to promoting best practices from both the educational and clinical standpoints.
Read Brayden’s bio
Abstract Award Winners
The abstract chairs and the best abstract review committee are very happy to present the best abstract awards. These awards recognize abstracts of the highest quality and relevance submitted to this year’s conference.
One best abstract and one runner up abstract were selected for each of the following categories: research abstract and curriculum, quality improvement and program abstract.
The best research abstract is awarded to Natalie Swartz and Avik Chatterjee for their work “Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) among Opioid Users Experiencing Homelessness”
The runner up is awarded to Ashly E. Jordan, for “Using a Care Continuum Model to Evaluate the Impact of Implementing Reflex Hepatitis C Virus RNA Testing Strategy Among People Receiving Treatment For Opioid Dependence.”
Ashly E. Jordan
Read Ashly’s bio
The John Nelson Chappel best curriculum, quality improvement and program abstract is awarded to Ellen L. Edens for “Interprofessional Addiction Education: Implementation Strategies for Online Training.”
Ellen L. Edens
Read Ellen’s bio
The runner up is awarded to Benjamin T. Hayes for “Needle Exchange Technology (NEXT): A Novel Internet-Based Mail-Delivered Syringe Services Program”
Benjamin T. Hayes
Read Benjamin’s bio
Thank you to the abstract review committee and abstract award committee for their involvement in making the conference possible by reviewing and grading all submitted abstracts.
2020 Abstract Review Committee:
Gina Dahlem, PhD, PNP-C, FAAN; Irina Kryzhanovskaya, MD; Michael Bierer, MD; Elenore Bhatraju, MD, MPH; Adriana Capasso, MFA, Kirsten Balano, PharmD; Kathleen Hanley, MD; Soraya Azari, MD; Emily Loscalzo, Psy.D; Christine Maynie-Francoise, MD. MSc, Constance Glenn, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE; Aaron Johnson, PhD; Sarah Bagley, MD, MSc; Mia Sorcinelli-Smith, MD; Ken Zoucha, MD, Eileen Klein, PhD, MSW, MS; Jilla Sabeti, PhD, Karran Phillips, MD, MSc; Ajay Manhapra, MD; Lipi Roy, MD, MPH, FASAM
2020 Abstract Award Committee:
Victoria Osborne-Leute, PhD, MSW and Pamela Burke, PhD, RN, FNP, PPCNP-BC, FSAHM, FAAN
Workshop Award Winners
2020 Best Workshop Award (awarded to a workshop presented at the 2019 conference)
Each year, AMERSA’s annual conference is enriched by our colleagues who share their work and expertise through workshop presentations. Workshops are designed to be longer than a didactic or research abstract presentation, specifically so that presenters can innovate with teaching methods, and participants have the opportunity to develop and practice new skills to utilize in their workplaces. We feel very fortunate to have so many people willing, each year, to invest their time and energy in bringing workshop presentations to the program!
The “Best Workshop” award is determined each year based on participant reviews. Congratulations to the winners of AMERSA’s 2020 Best Workshop award:
“Understanding the Needs of Youth in Recovery from Opioid Use Disorders: What’s Worked and What’s Still Needed” presented by: Nicholas Chadi MD, MPH, Avik Chatterjee MD, MPH, Leslie Green MSW, LICSW, and Evan Malkiewich LCSW, MSW
Participants commented on how grateful they were to have the opportunity to improve their skills for addressing substance use in this challenging population. Participants appreciated, in particular, the participation of young people working on recovery in the program. This workshop highlighted the value of including the voices of people in recovery in educational programs.
Thanks very much to this award winning team for bringing this unique and valuable program to the AMERSA program!
Thank you to the 2020 workshop review committee who worked diligently to review and grade all workshops submitted for the 2020 conference: Jeffrey Bratberg, PharmD, Maryann Amadeo, MSW, Rebecca Linn-Walton, PhD, LCSW and Nicholas Chadi, MD, MPH