2026 Speaker Presentations
Day 1: Tuesday - May 12, 2026
Main Stage
Understanding Alaska’s Commitment to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery
Speaker: Lindsey Kato, MPH, Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Using the Shared Risk & Protective Factor Framework Across Alaska
Speaker: Marcia Howell, JD, The Center for Safe Alaskans
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Treatment & Recovery
Alcohol Associated Liver Disease
Speaker: Kena Desai, MD, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Connections to Care
Pregnancy & Postpartum Recovery: Substance Use & Mental Health Support
Speaker: Michelle Kavouras, CDCS, NCPRSS, CADC, RCPF, SpheraNova
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Alaska Plant Teachings for Growing Social-Emotional Skills
Speaker: Naomi Michalsen, Kaasei Training & Consulting
1:30 – 2:30 PM
Prevention
HIV Prevention Update: Screening, PrEP and PEP
Speaker: Hope McGratty, PA-C, MPH, AAHIVS, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
1:30 – 2:00 PM
Behavioral Health Response: Anchorage Fire & Police Department Co-Response Teams
Speakers: Brian Fuchs, Anchorage Police Department; Kristy Becker, PhD, Anchorage Police Department; Benjamin Lewis, Anchorage Fire Department; and Jennifer Pierce, PhD, LPC-S, Anchorage Fire Department
Rethinking Connections to Care: Upstream Risk, System Trust, and Engagement
Speaker: Kira England, PhD, Alaska Department of Health
1:30 – 2:30 PM
Recovery Reimagined: The Many Ways We Heal Beyond Systems
Speakers: Christina Love, Christina Love Consulting; and Josie Heyano, LCSW, Signify Mental Health and Community Care
Main Stage
The Body Always Knew: Your Nervous System is the Steadiest Leader in the Room
Speaker: Monique Tula, MS, Cadence Coaching and Consulting
Day 2: Wednesday - May 13, 2026
Main Stage
From Treatment to Transformation-Reimagining Recovery in Rural Alaska
Speakers: Rose Domnick, Calricaraq Trainer, Nuyailnguq Training and Consulting; and Katrina Domnick, MPH, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation
Main Stage
Changing America’s Relationship with Alcohol
Speaker: Mike Marshall, U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance
Voices That Change Systems: How Lived Experience Improves Care and Reaching the Unreachable: Mobile Integrated Health in Rural Alaska
Speakers: Annette Hubbard, Ninilchik Traditional Council; Ryan Nye, Ninilchick Traditional Council; and Dr. Sarah Spencer, MD, DO, FASAM, Ninilchik Tribal Council and Homer Syringe Exchange
Facilitating Access to Residential Treatment for Individuals Receiving Methadone
Speakers: Elana Habib, MPH, Alaska Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health; Jennifer Stukey, Narcotic Drug Treatment Center Inc.; Jerry Short, Drug Enforcement Administration; and Ericka Weynand, MS, HS- BCP, CDCS, Akeela
Connections to Care
Bridging Systems for Reentry: Integrated Connection to Care in Ketchikan
Speakers: Jackie Yates, Ketchikan Wellness Coalition; Drew Herby, Ketchikan Wellness Coalition; Bailey Singstad, Ketchikan Wellness Coalition; and Jonathan Pistotnik, MPH, Alaska Department of Corrections
Connection as Transformation: Restoring Identity and Wellbeing
Speakers: Rose Domnick, Calricaraq Trainer, Nuyailnguq Training and Consulting; and Katrina Domnick, MPH, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation
Main Stage
Public Health Approaches to Addiction
Speaker: Jay Butler, MD, College of Health, UAA
Sexually Transmitted Infections Update
Speaker: Leah Besh, PA-C, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Capacity Before Intervention: Matching Clinical Approach to Client Readiness
Speaker: Cameron McCoy, LLMSW, Real McCoy Counseling Services
Community Health Workers: Building Integrated Care Systems
Speakers: Nyabony Gat, CHES, Alaska Literacy Program / AK CHW Network; Mavis Boone, Alaska Community Health Worker Network; and Linda Mankoff, CHW, Turnagain Community Health
From Access to Action: Expanding Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Rural and Tribal Communities
Speakers: Sarah Spencer, DO, FASAM, Ninilchik Traditional Council Community Clinic; with support from Rising Roots Recovery LLC, the US Department of Veteran Affairs Alaska, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and SALA Mobile Integrated Healthcare
Counting What Counts: Alcohol Data Collection as a Tool for Community Action
Speakers: Tiffany Hall, MPA, Recover Alaska; and Alicia Sparks, PhD, MPH, Synergy Enterprises, Inc.
Hepatitis C – 2026 Updates
Speaker: Lisa Townshend-Bulson, MSN, FNP-C, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Integrating Low-Barrier Care and Harm Reduction into Syndemic Response
Speakers: Jess Adamson, BSN, RN, Anchorage Health Department; and George Conway, MD, MPH, DABPM, Anchorage Health Department
Main Stage
From Response to Healing: Multiple Pathways to Recovery
Speaker: Christina Love, Christina Love Consulting
View Presentation →
Day 3: Thursday - May 14, 2026
9:45 – 10:45 AM
Main Stage
What’s Love Got to Do With It? Connection to Transformation: A Paradigm in Real World Prevention
Speaker: Carlton Hall, Carlton Hall Consulting
The Power of Connection: Supporting Recovery Through Relationships
Speakers: Tara Schmidt, MPH, University of Michigan Research to Practice (R2P) Lab; and Travis Hedwig, PhD, University of Alaska Anchorage
When It Gets Personal: Managing Countertransference in SUD Care
Speaker: Fred Sweetski, LMSW, CDC-1, Mount Juneau Counseling & Recovery (Gastineau Human Services)
Connections to Care
Rebirth Through Restoration: Bringing Recovery Home
Speaker: Jenifer Galvan, BA, PSPIII, CDCS, Alaska Peer, LLC
Learning Circle Facilitation Workshop
Speakers: Denile Ault, Southcentral Foundation Wellness Warriors Initiative; with support from the Southcentral Foundation Wellness Warriors Initiative team
Main Stage
Systems Change, Behavioral Health Crisis, & Well-Being: State, Tribal, Local, & Community Effort
Speakers: Thea Agnew Bemben, Municipality of Anchorage; Michelle Baker, MBA, Southcentral Foundation; Katie Baldwin-Johnson, M.S., Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority; Sean Case, Anchorage Police Department; Commissioner Heidi Hedberg, Alaska Department of Health; Tara Lovin-Curry, Providence Medical Group, Alaska Region; Carla MacGregor, LPC, Providence Alaska Medical Center; Christopher Wightman, LCSW, MSW, Southcentral Foundation
Empowering Prevention Leaders: Strengthening Mentorship, Leadership, and Technical Assistance
Speaker: Carlton Hall, Carlton Hall Consulting
Understanding Medication-Assisted Treatment: Exploring Ideal Option’s Impact
Speaker: Melanie Luna, Ideal Option
Connections to Care
Making Systems Worth Trusting
Speaker: Tami Truett Jerue, Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center
Learning Circle Facilitation Workshop
Speakers: Denile Ault, Southcentral Foundation Wellness Warriors Initiative; with support from the Southcentral Foundation Wellness Warriors Initiative team
Main Stage
Humor in Trauma
Speaker: Suzette O’Donnell, LCSW, Alaska Behavioral Health & ANG