Michigan Health
Policy Forum

Note: The Michigan Health Policy Forum website provides several articles related to the topic of opioid addiction.

Michigan's Response to the Opioid Epidemic

The number of deaths due to drug overdose has more than doubled in the United States in the past 15 years. In many states, including Michigan, the number of deaths due to drug overdose exceeds the number of deaths due to traffic accidents. Michigan is not immune from this epidemic and ranks 18^th among the 50 states for drug overdose deaths at a rate of 14.6 persons per 100,000 population. The Michigan Health Policy Forum has convened a panel of experts from the many professions that interface with individuals who are at high risk of drug overdose to examine steps that have been taken and can be taken to address this deadly epidemic.

Agenda

1:00 P.M. Welcome, William Strampel DO, Dean, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

1:15 P.M.  Keynote Speaker

Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley

"The Policy Overview of the Opioid Epidemic"

1:45 P.M. Reactor Panel Presentations

• Addiction Medicine: Cara Poland MD, President, Michigan Chapter of American Society of Addiction Medicine

• Emergency Medicine: Rebecca Cunningham MD,  Director, Injury Research Center, University of Michigan

• Judiciary: Honorable Donald L. Allen Jr., Chief Judge 55^th District Court

• Law Enforcement: Detective Lt. Andrew Fias, Michigan State Police

• Legislative: State Representative Andy Schor, 68th House District

• Pharmacy: Karen Jonas RPh, Pharmacy Consultant for Michigan Association of Health Plans

• Primary Care: David Neff DO, MSUCOM Department of Family and Community Medicine

• Public Health: Eden V. Wells MD, MPH, FACPM, MDHHS Chief Medical Executive

3:00 P.M. Break

3:15 P.M. Community Discussion, Facilitator: Tim Skubick, Senior Capitol Correspondent

4:00 P.M. Concluding Comments, Dennis Paradis MPH, Executive Director, Michigan Health Policy Forum

Downloads

Opioid Panel Discussion

View/Download Agenda

Rebecca Cunningham, M.D.

David Neff Presentation

William Strampel

In addition to serving as dean of Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine, William Strampel is a professor of internal medicine. Previously, Strampel served as the college's interim dean and the college's senior associate dean. He also is the lead medical director of MSU HealthTeam. Before coming to MSU, Strampel was a special assistant to the U.S. surgeon general for operations and readiness; he also served as chief medical officer for the Tricare Management Activity and as director of quality management in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Strampel was commander of the Brooke Army Medical Center and Great Plains Regional Medical Command, and was chief of the Quality Assurance Division, Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General. He also served in a number of capacities at hospitals in Colorado, Kansas, and Korea.

Lt. Governor Brian Calley

The youngest lieutenant governor in the country, Brian Calley is a forward-looking leader intent on building the best Michigan for everybody.

First elected as lieutenant governor in 2010, Calley has worked in partnership with Gov. Rick Snyder to play an integral role in Michigan’s comeback, combining skills acquired from an accomplished private sector career in the financial services industry with a heart for public service. A pragmatic and inclusive solutionist with a long-range vision, Calley approaches every issue with a focus on addressing the needs of current and future generations through positive advancements in public policy.

Continually referenced for redefining the role of lieutenant governor in Michigan, Calley’s hands-on approach helped guide two historic tax reforms through the Legislature that have expanded economic opportunity and served as a catalyst for private-sector job growth. He also worked to create a more customer service-friendly state government by spearheading Michigan’s “Good Government” initiative.

Calley is a tireless advocate for mental health in Michigan, working to ensure some of our most vulnerable citizens can live independent and self-determined lives. Calley chaired the Michigan Mental Health and Wellness Commission and leads the Michigan Diversion Council, developing and implementing strategies to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities. He also is chairing the Prescription Drug and Opioid Task Force to address the growing problem of addiction in Michigan.

As lieutenant governor, he led the charge to increase access to autism services and to promote and expand inclusion in schools and communities for people with developmental differences. To ensure all Michiganders have the opportunity to succeed, Calley is raising awareness of the value of hiring Michiganders with disabilities. Through the MI Hidden Talent Tour, he is highlighting the extraordinary but often overlooked potential that exists within our workforce and equipping employers with the know-how and resources to successfully tap into the talent of all Michigan citizens.

Prior to serving as lieutenant governor, Calley served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives and two terms as an Ionia County commissioner and worked for over a decade in community banking. Calley holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, an MBA from Grand Valley State University and an MPA from the John F.  Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Calley has been honored as one of Crain’s Detroit Business’ 40 under 40 and has received recognition for his leadership by organizations across the state, including the Small Business Association of Michigan, Special Olympics of Michigan, the Michigan Manufacturers Association and the Mental Health Association. He also has received national recognition from Autism Speaks and the US Junior Chamber, which named him one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans.  He and his wife Julie live in Portland with their three children: Collin, Reagan and Karagan.

Cara Poland, MD, M.Ed

Cara Poland, MD, M.Ed was trained in internal medicine at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan and in addiction medicine at Boston Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.  She has an interest in educating physicians and physicians-in-training to improve care for patients with substance abuse and alcohol disorders.  She is interested in medical student curriculum development and assessment, student well-being and identifying ways to improve the process of medical training.  She sits on the Board of Directors for the Red Project and multiple leadership boards of various professional societies such as the Midwest Society of General Internal Medicine and American Society of Addiction Medicine.  She is currently a physician at Spectrum Health’s Center for Integrative Medicine.

Rebecca Cunningham, M.D.

Dr. Cunningham is the Associate Chair for Research and Professor in the U-M Department of Emergency Medicine, Director of the CDC-funded U-M Injury Center, Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education of the U-M School of Public Health, and the Associate Director of the Flint Youth Violence Prevention Center. Her expertise is in ED-based research on substance use, violence, and other negative outcomes, particularly among children, and the development and application of behavioral interventions in the ED setting. In directing the Injury Center (one of nine centers in the nation), Dr. Cunningham conceptualizes, oversees, and guides the short and long-term missions of the Injury Center. She has led large multidisciplinary teams of investigators through the conduct of several R01 proposals, including longitudinal studies evaluating interventions, service utilization, and mental health outcomes among youth with assault-related injury (NIDA, Project FYI), and the subsequent five-year methodological cohort evaluation. In addition, Dr. Cunningham and her team have developed and successfully implemented behavioral interventions focused on reducing substance use among underage drinkers seeking ED care (NIAAA, Project U Connect) with a focus on cutting-edge technology-delivered interventions (Web based, text based, computer augmented). Dr. Cunningham was instrumental in the development of such global projects as the medical, nursing and post-graduate education of emergency medicine content in Ghana colleagues (Fogarty). 

View Website

Professor, Emergency Medicine

Associate Chair, Research

Director, Injury Research Center

Honorable Donald L. Allen Jr., 55^th Judicial District Court, Chief Judge

The Honorable Donald L. Allen, Jr.,  was  appointed judge of the 55th District Court by Governor Jennifer Granholm on December 22, 2008.  He was elected to the bench in 2010.  His current  term will expire on  December 31, 2016.  Judge Allen was appointed chief judge of the court by the Michigan Supreme Court on January 1, 2016. 

The Honorable Donald L. Allen, Jr., is a 1983 graduate of Wayne State University Law School and spent most of his professional career as an assistant attorney general in the Michigan  Department of Attorney General.  He served at the Department of  Attorney General from  February 1988 through September 2005.  In September 2005, he was appointed deputy legal counsel to Governor Granholm. On June 5, 2006, Judge Allen was appointed by Governor Granholm to serve as director of the Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP).  Judge Allen served in that position until his appointment to the 55th District Court Bench.  Judge Allen is the presiding judge of Sobriety Court. Sobriety Court focuses on the rehabilitation of repeat offense substance  abusers.  Sobriety Court has changed hundreds of lives, saved tax dollars, and has been recognized for excellence.

Awards/Recognitions:

· Lansing Black Lawyer's Association, Outstanding Barrister Award (2009) 

· Central Michigan Heritage Enterprise, Citizen of the Year Award (2011)

· Turning Point, Kevin D. Bibbs Citizenship Award (2013)

· Community Mental Health Authority, Distinguished Service Award (2015)

· Michigan Public Health, Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion (2016)  

Professional/Community Service:

· Okemos-Ingham Families Against Narcotics, President and Co-Founder 

· Mason Prescription Drug Task Force, Co-Founder

· American Bar Association Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs, Diversity Committee Chair

· Michigan Bar Association, Fellow

· Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program, Special Advisor

· Mason Promise Scholarship, Board Member

· Ingham Opioid Work Group

· Holt -South Lansing Rotary Club

· Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals

· Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity

· Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity

Andrew Fias, Michigan State Police - D/F/Lieutenant

D/F/Lt. Andy Fias has been with the Michigan State Police for 23 years and is assigned as the Section Commander at the West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET).  He began his career at the MSP Newaygo Post in 1994 as a Trooper.  In 2000, he transferred to the Metropolitan Enforcement Team investigating drug conspiracy crimes and worked on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.   In 2003 he was promoted to detective sergeant and transferred to the MSP Hart Post.  In 2007 he transferred to WEMET.  He has held the ranks of Detective Sergeant, Detective Lieutenant, and Detective First Lieutenant while assigned to WEMET.

D/F/Lt. Fias has investigated thousands of narcotic related cases, resulting in successful prosecutions.  He has interviewed thousands of individuals involved in the drug trade.  He has experience with all levels of narcotic trafficking, from street level dealers to multi-kilogram level distributors.  He has provided expert testimony in several west Michigan courtrooms.

D/F/Lt. Fias is a primary instructor for Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit Schools and task forces for narcotic related training. 

Karen Jonas

Karen Jonas currently works as a pharmacy consultant with the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP); she has served in this role for two years. Prior to joining MAHP, Jonas spent 10 years with the Michigan Pharmacists Association, serving in the roles as Director of Professional Practice and the Director of Governmental Affairs. Before working in association management, Jonas owned and operated her own consulting company for 15 years and working with long term care, assisted living and intermediate care facilities as well as several county mental health agencies. Jonas is a 1987 graduate of Ferris State University College of Pharmacy.

David Neff

Dr. David Neff has been involved with large scale planning programs to address population health related issues in the areas of cardiovascular disease, diabetes management and opioid addiction since 2000. He has been studying the Opioid Mortality Crisis since 2010 and has been a member of the Michigan Osteopathic Association’s Presidential Ad Hoc Committee to address the crisis since it was formed in February, 2015. He has been instrumental in developing the MOA’s two-pronged strategy of addressing the crisis with 1) activating its own membership and 2) working closely in a cross-functional manner with key stakeholder groups across Michigan. The initiative was recently recognized by the Michigan Society of Association Executives with the Diamond Achievement Award for Best Governmental Relations Project on combating the opioid crisis through provider education programs, conducting a Town Hall event with key members of the Governor’s Task Force, it’s leadership on legislation and raising awareness through newsletters and social media.

Dr. Neff is currently a fulltime consultant for Office of Medical Affairs within the Medical Services Administration in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services after retiring from Merck and Company in 2014 as a Strategy Leader in Global Medical Affairs. He actively sees patients including those with recalcitrant chronic pain and/or opioid addiction. Dr. Neff attended Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology in 1976. Additional post graduate studies included lipid biochemistry, neuroscience & systems science. He graduated from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) in 1980. He completed an undergraduate fellowship in Clinical Biomechanics and Osteopathic Manual Medicine. He has been on the clinical faculty at MSUCOM in the Department of Family and Community Medicine since 1981. He is board certified in Family Medicine. He is former Director of Pharmaceutical Studies in the Office of Research at Michigan State University. Since his retirement from Merck, he still retains an active research interest in cardiovascular genomics and bioinformatics. He has been a member of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), the American Osteopathic Association of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM), the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the National Lipid Association (NLA), the American Society for Quality (ASQ), the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and the American Osteopathic Association of Medical Informatics (AOAMI).