Middle Plenary Session: Systemic Approaches to Treating Opioid Use Disorder

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

9:15 AM – 10:45 AM

Location: Convention Center, Lower Level Exhibit Hall

CE: 1.5

Plenary Moderator(s)

Vickie Walters, LCSW-C

Executive Director
Institutes for Behavior Resources, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland

Plenary Speaker(s)

Kathleen Rebbert-Franklin, LCSW-C

Director, Service Access and Practice Innovation
Maryland Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration
Catonsville, Maryland

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Babak Imanoel, DO

Medical Director
Northern Parkway Treatment Services
Baltimore, Maryland
Gregory Branch, MD, MBA, CPE, FACP (he/him/his)

Health Officer and Director
Baltimore County, MD
Baltimore, Maryland

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this activity, participants will:

Describe a multi-discipline approach to expanding access to opioid treatment and the collaborative work with opioid treatment programs.
Describe how the treatment of opioid use disorder is evolving to deal with the opioid crisis and changes being advanced within correctional facilities.
Discuss the importance of creative solutions in treating opioid use disorder and ultimately improving public health.

The conference theme, “The Power of Collaboration,” came to fruition with the goal of highlighting the work occurring between the many agencies and organizations at the local, state, and federal jurisdictions that come together using an integrated approach to provide quality care to patients struggling with opioid use disorder and to address the larger policy issues. This themed plenary session features four leaders in the field who have been responsible for integrating care for opioid use disorders into state and federal systems to best serve the addicted population. Moderated by Vickie Walters, this session will focus on the incorporation of expert addiction care through the differing perspectives of state leaders, county health and social services organizations, the corrections system and at the federal level during the time of immense challenges as we dealt with a pandemic. Kathleen Rebbert-Franklin will discuss the innovative programs developed in Maryland over the last several years and upcoming programs as we move into the opioid restitution fund at the state level. Dr. Gregory Branch will talk about the innovative practices as he manages both the health department and the social services department and how the two work together to address the opioid and overdose issues in the county. Dr. Babak Imanoel, one of the first medical directors of an opioid treatment program (OTP) housed in a detention center will discuss the implementation and success of the OTP “behind the walls.”