Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center and UB CTSI to co-host community event

People with Pills.

Published February 7, 2019 This content is archived.

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By Megan Wilson-Crowley, MPA

Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center (ENAHEC) and UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) will be co-hosting “Taking Action Together: A Community Conversation on Opioids” on Thursday, February 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

The event has been designed to bring together the multiple groups who are working to address the community’s opioid epidemic, as well as to showcase how opioid research can inform policy and impact delivery of care.

“Erie Niagara AHEC is fortunate to co-host this event as it is important that the community understands the value of their voice in ending this epidemic of addiction,” said Danise Wilson, MPH, executive director of ENAHEC. “We exist to inform and educate community members as well as to provide a platform for them to be heard.”

The free event will host a keynote presentation from Emma Fabian, MSW, Senior Director of Harm Reduction at Evergreen Health, which will be followed by a community-friendly panel discussion moderated by Gale Burstein, MD, MPH, Commissioner of Erie County’s Department of Health. The panel will present different perspectives of the opioid epidemic, including a provider, counselor, researcher, and most importantly, community member.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to engage with researchers and community organizations during a networking session. Posters on opioid research will be displayed and information tables will promote and educate attendees on available community services. Refreshments will be served.

Research provides evidence that can be used to drive changes in healthcare and policy,” said Laurene Tumiel-Berhalter, PhD, director of Community Translational Research in UB’s Department of Family Medicine and director of Community Engagement for the CTSI. “It is important to know what research is being done around opioids and to talk about how it fits in with the reality of what the community is experiencing. This event is an excellent opportunity for the university and community to engage in dialogue and discuss ways to further collaborate.”

Community partners, university faculty, staff and students are welcomed to attend. Participants are encouraged to pre-register at www.erieniagaraahec.org. For guidelines on how to participate in the networking session, please contact CTSI Community Recruitment Liaison Danielle Balling at 716-816-7298 or drabramo@buffalo.edu. All requests for posters and tables must be submitted by Monday, February 11.