Arkansas Prescription Drug Summit

Transcription

1 Arkansas Prescription Drug Summit Conference Agenda Presenter/Panelist Biographies Thursday, April 26, 2012 Doubletree by Hilton Hotel 424 West Markham Little Rock, Arkansas

2 As a father and as our state s top law enforcement and consumer protection officer, I can think of few causes more important than raising awareness about prescription drug abuse. The scope of this problem is shocking. Our state has historically had one of the largest problems of prescription drug abuse especially by children of anywhere in the nation. By the time Arkansas high school students have reached their senior year, roughly one in five have abused prescription drugs. But we re making progress. Over the past three years, youth abuse rates have dropped and we are working to continue this welcome trend. Arkansas has conducted three successful prescription drug take back events that have yielded over twelve tons of no-longer-needed medications from family medicine cabinets in Arkansas. This past legislative session, prescription drug abuse prevention, treatment, and enforcement received a great boost with the passage of Act 304 establishing an Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. In the spirit of continuing that progress, I want to welcome you to the 2012 Arkansas Prescription Drug Summit. It s important that we continue to raise awareness and provide education about prescription abuse and its prevention. We need to continue to push the message to Monitor, Secure, and Dispose medications. My office is committed to ensuring the safety of all Arkansans particularly our children. And, I am very pleased to partner in this effort with the Arkansas U.S. Attorneys Offices Eastern and Western District, the Office of the Arkansas Drug Director, and law enforcement agencies from across the state. I look forward to continuing to work with all of the partners in this effort as we work to eliminate prescription drug abuse in our great State. Sincerely, Welcome to the Arkansas Prescription Drug Summit Dustin McDaniel, Attorney General Thank you to the sponsors who made the Arkansas Prescription Drug Summit possible: Office of the Arkansas Attorney General Office of the Arkansas Drug Director Arkansas Department of Human Services Office of the U.S. Attorney Eastern District Office of the U.S. Attorney Western District St. Vincent Infirmary Criminal Justice Institute Arkansas State Crime Lab National Association of Medical Examiners Arkansas National Guard Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy Out of the Dark, Inc. Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Arkansas Prevention Network Rotary International Department of Justice Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Benton Police Department Office of National Drug Control Policy Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Alliance U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Arkansas Chapter

3 Arkansas Prescription Drug Summit: Summit Agenda 7:00 8:00 AM Summit Check-In 8:00 8:30 AM Pledge of Allegiance Opening Remarks Fran Flener, State Drug Director Conner Eldridge, U.S. Attorney, Western District of Arkansas Chris Thyer, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Arkansas 8:30 9:30 AM Trafficking and Abuse Trends Alan G. Santos, Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Overview of current statistical trends regarding prescription drug abuse, using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, treatment data, and law enforcement data Overview of current trends in the diversion of controlled substances 9:30 10:00 AM National Prescription Control Strategy Jack Stein, Ph.D., Prevention Branch Chief, Office of Demand Reduction White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Focus on ONDCP prescription abuse initiatives, encompassing educational initiatives for parents and the medical community, advancement of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), provision and advancement of proper disposal methods, enhanced law enforcement efforts, particularly as they relate to pill mills and doctor shopping 10:00 AM 10:15 AM Break 10:15 AM 11:30 AM Panel Discussion: Prescription Drug Abuse Problems in Arkansas Moderator: Conner Eldridge, U.S. Attorney, Western District of Arkansas Description and discussion of current problem in Arkansas related to prescription drug abuse Description and discussion of trends of both theft and diversion of prescription drugs from pharmacies in Arkansas Discussion of problems facing healthcare professionals in Arkansas including doctor and pharmacy shopping, prescription forgeries, and pill mills Panelists: William Bryant, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration Fran Flener, State Drug Director John Kirtley, PharmD., Executive Director, Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy Carlos Roman, M.D., Chief of Pain Management, St. Vincent Infirmary, Chair of Arkansas State Medical Board Pain Committee Karl Wagenhauser, M.D., FACEP, St. Joseph s Mercy Health Center 11:30 AM 12:45 PM Lunch (Provided) Keynote Speaker: Attorney General Dustin McDaniel

4 12:45 1:15 PM How the Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Can Help Interdict the Epidemic John Eadie, Executive Director, Brandeis University PMP Center of Excellence Description of the scope, extent, and seriousness of the prescription drug abuse epidemic Overview of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) Examination of the many ways the Arkansas PDMP can help to interdict the epidemic Examination of treatment, prevention, and enforcement benefits resulting from establishment and utilization of Arkansas s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program 1:15 1:45 PM Drug-Related Fatalities in Arkansas: The Current View Charles P. Kokes, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Presentation of facts related to deaths caused directly or indirectly from alcohol and drug use Examination of the number of drug related fatalities, and the types of drugs which cause death, with a description of sex, age, and geographical distributions of drug-related fatalities Focus on mechanisms of death in these fatalities 1:45 2:15 PM What Doctors Are Being Taught About Prescribing Pain Medications and Why We Have a Problem Carlos Roman, M.D., Chief of Pain Management, St. Vincent Infirmary, Chair of Arkansas State Medical Board Pain Committee Discussion of the basic facts of pain medicine Examination related to how doctors are taught to use these facts to prescribe narcotics Examination of how current prescribing training and practices have worsened the problem Challenging the current philosophy 2:15 2:30 PM Break 2:30 3:00 PM Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction: An Adolescent Perspective Rob Covington, Ph.D., Director, Horizon Adolescent Treatment Program Raise awareness of the prevalence and scope of prescription drug abuse in the adolescent population and recognize when professional intervention is needed Focus on issues and concerns in treating adolescents experiencing abuse and dependence of prescription drugs its impact the on youth and their family members 3:00 PM 4:30 PM Panel Discussion: Responding to Prescription Drug Abuse Problems in Arkansas Moderator: Chris Thyer, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Arkansas Discussion of the National Prescription Drug Control Strategy, including educational, legislative, disposal, and enforcement initiatives, and other ways to address prescription drug abuse in Arkansas Outline Board of Pharmacy outreach plans to help educate pharmacists and pharmacy permit holders regarding measures to improve the control and accountability of prescription drugs State prevention efforts including development of strategies and standards for safe prescribing Panel question and answer session Panelists: William Bryant, A.S.A.C., DEA Conner Eldridge, U.S. Attorney, Western District of Arkansas Fran Flener, State Drug Director John Kirtley, PharmD., Executive Director, Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy Kirk Lane, Chief of Police, Benton Police Department Cheryl May, PhD., Director, Criminal Justice Institute Larry Miller, M.D., Division of Behavioral Health Services Carlos Roman, M.D., Chief of Pain Management, St. Vincent Infirmary, Chair of Arkansas State Medical Board Pain Committee

5 Arkansas Prescription Drug Summit: Presenter/Panelist Biographies William Bryant, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration William J. Bryant started his law enforcement career in December 1976 with the Sam Houston State University Police Department in Huntsville, Texas. In 1978, he went to work for the Huntsville, Texas Police Department where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant over the Criminal Investigation Division. In May 1984, Bryant joined the Drug Enforcement Administration, where he served at the Dallas Divisional Office. In 1991, he was assigned to the Little Rock Office where he worked as a Criminal Investigator. In 1996, Bryant was promoted to Group Supervisor at the Little Rock Office and was later named Resident Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Office. Bryant was transferred to DEA Headquarters Office of Inspections in 1999, where he served as an Inspector. In 2000, Bryant was assigned as a detailee to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary and Subcommittee on Crime. In 2001, Bryant was promoted to Special Assistant to the Chief of Domestic Operations and was assigned to serve as the Chief of the Office of Congressional Affairs. He served as Chief of Congressional Affairs under DEA Administrator Donnie Marshall and DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson. Since September 2002, Bryant has served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock District Office in the New Orleans Field Division. He is responsible for the supervision of the Little Rock District Office, Fayetteville Resident Office, and Fort Smith Post of Duty. Bryant has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Law Enforcement and Police Science and a Master of Arts Degree in Police Science and Administration from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Rob Covington, Ph.D., Director, Horizon Adolescent Treatment Program Rob Covington, Ph.D., LPC, LADAC, CCDP-D, AADC, CS, NCC, MAC, has 41 years experience in the field of addiction and mental health to include prevention, education and treatment. Dr. Covington has worked in the public and private sectors serving children through older adults in outpatient/residential/inpatient facilities. He trains for several universities over a wide range of behavioral healthcare topics. He is Director of Horizon Adolescent Treatment Center (a nationally accredited Co-Occurring Disorder Program) and the Drug and Alcohol Safety Education Program of the Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center in Fort Smith. Dr. Covington serves on the Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, the Arkansas Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coordinating Council, and is a former president of the Arkansas Association of Substance Abuse Treatment Providers. John Eadie, Executive Director, Brandeis University PMP Center of Excellence John L. Eadie is the Executive Director of the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Center of Excellence at Brandeis University. For forty years, he has served in management, executive, and consulting capacities in the field of public health; twenty-five of those years have been focused on prevention, detection and interdiction of prescription drug abuse and misuse. As Director of the Division of Public Health Protection in the NY State Department of Health from 1985 to 1995, he directed the State s pharmaceutical diversion program, including the PMP. Mr. Eadie was responsible for a tenfold expansion of the PMP from just Schedule II medications to all benzodiazepine drugs. He was also responsible for regulatory, legislative, and judicial processes regarding the program. He co-founded both the Alliance of States with Prescription Monitoring Programs (ASPMP) and the National Association of State Controlled Substances Authorities (NASCSA), served as President for both organizations, served on their Executive Committees and held several other posts. Since leaving state service in 2001, he has served as a consultant on PMPs, including serving as the Administrative Reviewer for the Massachusetts PMP and as a consultant for the Harold Rogers Prescription Monitoring Training and Technical Assistance Center. Mr. Eadie has published multiple articles, made numerous presentations, served in many different arenas as an expert, and received a number of awards and recognitions for his work. Fran Flener, State Drug Director Fran Flener was appointed as the Arkansas Drug Director by Governor Mike Beebe in She is responsible for ensuring that substance abuse prevention, treatment, and enforcement programs are effective and that state drug policy is well-coordinated. Flener serves as the board member representing the substance abuse treatment community nationwide for the National Methamphetamine Pharmaceuticals Initiative. In 2009, she was elected to the Executive Board of the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (GCHIDTA), whose mission is to target, disrupt and eliminate drug trafficking organizations in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Additionally, she serves as a steering committee member of the Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, a member of the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention and the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Substance Abuse Treatment Services, and many other decision-making bodies for state agencies and projects. Flener holds a Master of Science in Health and Bachelor of Science in Education degrees from Western Kentucky University and was recently certified as an Arkansas law enforcement instructor. She has twice testified for the U. S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. In 2010, Flener was honored with the Arkansas Prevention Certification Board s Prevention Ambassador of the Year award.

6 Conner Eldridge, U.S. Attorney, Western District of Arkansas Conner Eldridge serves as United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. Conner was appointed by President Barack Obama on September 29, 2010 and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 10, He was recommended for the U.S. Attorney position by United States Senator Blanche Lincoln and United States Senator Mark Pryor. Conner is currently the youngest United States Attorney in the country. As U.S. Attorney, Conner serves as the chief law enforcement officer for the Western District of Arkansas. He is responsible for the prosecution of all federal crimes in the District and the litigation of civil matters in which the United States government has an interest. The Western District includes 34 Arkansas counties separated into six divisions: Texarkana, El Dorado, Hot Springs, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and Harrison. The U.S. Attorney s office is based in Fort Smith, Arkansas and has a satellite office in Texarkana, Arkansas that it shares with the Eastern District of Texas. Under Conner s leadership, the United States Attorney s office has made significant strides in prosecuting a wide variety of federal crimes in all areas of the district, including child pornography offenses, violent crime, large-scale drug trafficking crimes, white collar crime, and many other offenses. One of the highest priorities in the office has been convening meetings of federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors in communities across the district to discuss criminal issues and strategies for working together to address them. As a result, law enforcement resources have been targeted at violent drug trafficking organizations. Operation Street Sweeper in El Dorado, Arkansas and Operation State Line Sweep in Texarkana, Arkansas have resulted in the dismantling of large-scale criminal enterprises and in the prosecution of over 100 federal cases. Prior to becoming United States Attorney, Conner served as a Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the 9th (East) Judicial District of Arkansas in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. In this capacity, he prosecuted state offenses ranging from attempted murder to misdemeanor offenses. He also served as a federal law clerk to the Honorable G. Thomas Eisele, a Federal District Judge in the Eastern District of Arkansas. Following the clerkship, Conner held several positions at Summit Bank and Summit Bancorp in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. During his last two years at Summit Bank, Conner served as Chief Executive Officer. Earlier in his career, Conner worked as a legislative aide to United States Senator Blanche Lincoln and United States Congressman Marion Berry, both of Arkansas. Conner has been active in numerous civic and charitable organizations including the United Way (Past Chapter President), the Clark County, Arkansas Strategic Planning and Economic Development efforts, and the Arkansas IOLTA Foundation (appointed by Governor Mike Beebe). Conner is a native of Lonoke and Augusta, Arkansas, where he grew up working on his family s rice, soybean, and wheat farm and in his family s farm equipment dealership. He graduated from Lonoke High School, Davidson College (B.A.) and the University of Arkansas School of Law (J.D.). During law school, Conner was a note and comment editor with the Arkansas Law Review and worked for the Washington County, Arkansas Prosecuting Attorney s office. John Kirtley, PharmD., Executive Director, Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy John Clay Kirtley, Pharm.D., completed his pre-pharmacy coursework at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with his Doctor of Pharmacy. As a student, he was an active leader in the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists on the local, regional, and national level, namely as the APhA-ASP National President-elect, President, and as a member of the APhA Board-of-Trustees. As a pharmacist, he has taken an active role in the mentoring of future pharmacists through his work as a community pharmacist, Community Clinical Clerkship preceptor for senior students, and as an Assistant Professor at UAMS College of Pharmacy. In his current position, Kirtley is the Executive Director of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy where he is the media and legislative contact for the Board of Pharmacy and represents the Board on issues related to the profession of pharmacy. Kirtley currently serves as the President of MALTAGON, a Professional Association of Boards of Pharmacy across the Southeast US, serves as the chair of the APA Policy Committee on Professional Affairs & Ethical Practices and is a member of the Accreditation Council on Pharmaceutical Education s Continuing Pharmacy Education Commission. Charles P. Kokes, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Dr. Charles Kokes is a 1980 graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine. He completed residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the VA Medical Center in Martinez, CA., which was followed by a fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the Institute of Forensic Sciences in Oakland, CA. He has subsequently worked full time as a forensic pathologist in Maryland, California, and Arkansas. From 1993 to 2004, he served as an associate Medical Examiner for Arkansas. Since 2004, he has served as Chief Medical Examiner. Kirk Lane, Chief of Police, Benton Police Department Chief of Police Kirk Lane has been in law enforcement since He worked for the Benton Police Department early in his career and then left to work for the Pulaski County Sheriff s Office in Little Rock. Chief Lane worked for Pulaski County over the 22 years he worked for them, rising to the rank of Captain. His assignments during this time period include Patrol, Narcotics, Investigations, SWAT, and Honor Guard. In 2009, Lane was appointed the Chief of Police of the Benton Police Department. He has attended the University of Virginia and University of Arkansas-Little Rock. He is a graduate of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Academy, the Drug Enforcement Administration s Drug Commander s Academy, and the FBI National Academy. He currently serves on the Board representing Arkansas for the Regional Organized Crime Information Center and is the President of the Arkansas Chapter of the FBI National Academy Graduates. He is a member of the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is an active member of the Arkansas State working group for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and is an adjunct instructor for the Criminal Justice Institute.

7 Cheryl May, PhD., Director, Criminal Justice Institute Dr. Cheryl P. May is the Director of the Criminal Justice Institute (CJI), University of Arkansas System. She has served and been an advocate for the Arkansas law enforcement community for the past 29 years as a forensic professional and as CJI Chief Executive Officer, CJI Deputy Director, CJI Assistant Director, and CJI Program Manager. Dr. May earned a Ph.D. in Biological/Forensic Anthropology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in She also earned a M.A. in Biological Anthropology from Western Michigan University in 1982 and a B.A. in Anthropology from West Virginia University in Since her arrival in Arkansas, she has assisted Arkansas law enforcement in the investigation of hundreds of cases, either through laboratory analysis and evaluation of skeletal remains or in the identification and field recovery of suspected human remains. She has also instructed biological anthropology and forensic sciences courses as an Assistant Professor and Associate Professor within the Departments of Anthropology and Criminal Justice, respectfully, at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Immediately prior to joining the CJI staff, she was the Director of Clinical Research for the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. May played the lead role in the development of three unique academic programs that allow active members of Arkansas law enforcement to earn certificates and associate degrees in crime scene investigation and law enforcement administration. She coordinated efforts to establish partnerships with 22 Arkansas institutions of higher education and actively promotes these programs to law enforcement agencies throughout the State. Since its formation in 2005, Dr. May has served as President of the Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. Due to her leadership in meth-related and drug endangered children efforts, she was selected as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (DEC). She is also currently serving as Chair of the First Responder Subcommittee of the Legislative Task Force on Autism. Dr. May served as a Subject Matter Expert for the Crime Scene Issues Subcommittee of the U.S. Department of Justice National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence, helping to produce DNA evidence educational CD ROMS, a DNA pamphlet, and a cold case investigations manuscript distributed to law enforcement officers across the U.S. She has provided lectures on forensic science and DNA issues to chiefs, sheriffs, and investigators in Arkansas, Kentucky, Iowa, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Utah. Dustin McDaniel, Arkansas Attorney General On January 9, 2007, Dustin McDaniel was sworn in as the 55th Attorney General for the State of Arkansas, the youngest Attorney General in the nation. As chief law-enforcement officer, McDaniel s responsibility is to represent the people of the state and to be the guardian of their interests. He and his staff are committed to safeguarding consumers, protecting seniors from abuse and neglect, and developing solutions to problems ranging from upholding criminal convictions to protecting children from predators on the Internet. Prior to becoming the Attorney General, Dustin McDaniel was a Democratic Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 75 in Jonesboro. Named as one of the 10 Best Legislators in 2005 by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Dustin has earned a reputation for being able to achieve consensus on tough legislation. McDaniel was also named an Outstanding State Legislator by the Arkansas Municipal League, and a Friend of the AARP by that organization earlier this year. Dustin was a law partner in the firm of McDaniel and Wells in Jonesboro. Initially, though, his service took a different path. Right out of college, Dustin turned down admission to law school in order to become a uniformed patrol officer for the Jonesboro Police Department. He felt as though he needed to give something back to the community, and looking back says it is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things he has ever done. As an attorney, Dustin has enjoyed a successful and respected career. Some of his professional accomplishments include: 1.) Appointed by Federal Judges of Arkansas Eastern District to serve on the Federal Practice Committee 2.) Received the Arkansas Bar Association s Golden Gavel award for serving as Chair of the Consumer Law Handbook Committee 3.) Received the Arkansas Bar Association s Distinguished Service award for having the Consumer Law Handbook translated into Spanish 4.) Chairman of the Arkansas Bar Association Civil Litigation Section (2002 & 2003) 5.) Board of Governors Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. Dustin is former legal counsel for the Craighead County Democratic Central Committee and a former member of the Democratic Party of Arkansas State Committee. Larry Miller, M.D., Division of Behavioral Health Services Since 1998, Laurence Miller has served as the Medical Director for the Division of Behavioral Health Services, which is responsible for ensuring the provision of public mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention services throughout the State of Arkansas. He also currently serves as Director of the Arkansas Mental Health Research and Training Institute and is a faculty member for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Miller has a forty-five year record of dedication and service to the advancement of treatment of individuals with co-occurring disorders beginning in Boston where he did his psychiatric training. His research initiatives have centered on improving scientific foundations and achieving higher standards of care for individuals with schizophrenia, geriatric psychiatry patients, and patients with addiction issues. He received the Robert F. Shannon Award for Outstanding Contributions to Psychiatric Education in Arkansas. In 2001, an award was established in his name, the Laurence H. Miller Award Trust, in honor of his work on behalf of individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Dr. Miller earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Chicago Medical School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont. He has been published in numerous scholarly journals. He is the past president of the Arkansas Psychiatric Society, he served as the Arkansas representative to the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association for eleven years, and he currently serves as the Deputy Representative of Area V, the southern region, of the Assembly. Dr. Miller serves on a multitude of state and professional boards and committees, including the American Psychiatric Association s Council on Healthcare Systems and Financing, the Arkansas Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coordinating Council and the Arkansas Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board and the Medicaid Drug Cost Committee. Dr. Miller regularly develops programming for and appears on AETN s Healing Minds, Changing Attitudes program, which addresses mental health topics such as youth prescription abuse and criminalization of persons with mental illness.

8 Alan G. Santos, Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Alan Santos began his career with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in He is a career Special Agent who has held positions that included Task Force Group Supervisor and Resident Agent in Charge (Kansas City District Office), Country Attaché (New Delhi Country Office), Inspector (Office of Inspections), Section Chief (Dangerous Drugs & Chemicals Section), Executive Assistant to the Administrator, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge (Washington Division Office). In 2011, Santos was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES) to the position of Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Diversion Control. As Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator, Santos is part of the senior management team at the Office of Diversion Control that is responsible for overseeing and coordinating major pharmaceutical, precursor chemical, clandestine laboratory and synthetic drug investigations; the drafting and promulgating of regulations; establishing drug production quotas; and serves as liaison to the pharmaceutical industry, international governments, state governments, federal agencies, and law enforcement agencies. He holds a B.A. Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Martin s College. Carlos Roman, M.D., Chief of Pain Management, St. Vincent Infirmary, Chair of Arkansas State Medical Board Pain Committee Dr. Carlos Roman serves as Chairman of the Pain Management Review Committee of Arkansas State Medical Board, which is charged with investigation and adjudication of narcotics-related prescribing complaints. In his role as Chairman, he provides education to those in the medical community regarding appropriate pain management practices which minimize patients risk for developing physical dependence and addictions to narcotics while ensuring that patients receive the pain relief they need. As Chief of Pain Management for St. Vincent Infirmary, Dr. Roman works with patients to effectively manage pain while concurrently ameliorating their dependence on narcotic pain medications. In addition to pain management, Dr. Roman specializes in anesthesiology and has served as St. Vincent s Director and Chief of Anesthesia Services. Dr. Roman earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Science College of Medicine in 1994, where he ranked 19 in his graduating class of 124. He graduated Cum Laude from Tulane University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree, and received numerous academic honors during his undergraduate work. He is the past president of the Arkansas Society of Anesthesiologists, and serves on a host of professional and public boards and committees, including the Little Rock Anesthesia and Pain Management Executive Committee, the St. Vincent Medical Executive Committee, and the Arkansas State Medical Board. He is an active member in the American Medical Society, the Arkansas Medical Society, and the Arkansas Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Roman delivers educational programs for physicians and other groups outside the medical community, and is a featured speaker each year at the UAMS College of Medicine s Annual Family Medicine Intensive Review Course. Jack Stein, Ph.D., Prevention Branch Chief, Office of Demand Reduction, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Jack B. Stein, MSW, Ph.D. is Chief of the Prevention Branch at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). In this capacity, he is responsible for coordinating inter-federal agency efforts highlighted in the Administration s National Drug Control Strategy. Prior to joing ONDCP, Dr. Stein was the Director for the Division of Services Improvement at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) where he managed a large discretionary grant portfolio including Access to Recovery (ATR), Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), and HIV/AIDS. Before this, he held several research administrative positions at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), most recently the Deputy Director, Division of Epidemiology Services, and Prevention Research. Dr. Stein has a doctoral degree in health services with a focus on translating research into practice. He received his Masters in Social Work from New York University. Chris Thyer, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Arkansas President Barack Obama nominated Christopher R. Thyer as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas on December 1, The United States Senate confirmed Mr. Thyer on December 22, 2010, and on December 31, 2010 Mr. Thyer was sworn in by Chief United States District Judge J. Leon Holmes in a private ceremony. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Thyer was a partner in the Jonesboro, Arkansas law firm of Stanley & Thyer, P.A. where his practice focused on both civil and criminal litigation. In addition to the private practice of law, Mr. Thyer is a former Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he served from 2003 to Mr. Thyer graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in While in law school, he was a member of the Arkansas Law Review, the Vanderbilt National Moot Court Team, the Order of Barristers and Board of Advocates. He obtained his undergraduate degree in accounting from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in Karl Wagenhauser, M.D., FACEP, Medical Director, LifeNet, Inc. Emergency Medical Services Dr. Karl Wagenhauser is the Medical Director for LifeNet Emergency Services, which provides emergency medical and ambulance and med-flight services throughout northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas. Dr. Wagenhauser formerly served as the Assistant Medical Director of St. Joseph s Mercy Medical Center in Hot Springs. Concurrently, he directs all medical services for the Hot Springs Police Department s Special Weapons and Tactics Team and the Garland County Sheriff s Department s Tactical Response Team. He is a commissioned Reserve Deputy, and often accompanies other officers on high-risk search warrants and provides on-site emergency medical response when officers, suspects, or by-standers are injured. In addition to countless other lives Dr. Wagenhauser has helped preserve, in 2009 he provided lifesaving care to a fellow Garland County Deputy who had been shot in the line of duty. After completing his studies in Biomedical Sciences at Texas A & M University in 1990, Dr. Wagenhauser earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Texas in During preparation for and during his early medical career, he was named Chief Resident for the Eastern Virginia Medical School s Emergency Medicine Residency Program and awarded membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society for his outstanding professional skills and academic excellence. Dr. Wagenhauser serves on a host of committees and boards, including the Arkansas Governor s Advisory Council for Emergency Medical Services. He is also very involved in state and local emergency management planning activities. He is an active member of the Arkansas Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians. He regularly delivers educational programs for Emergency Medical Technicians in training at Arkansas colleges and delivers presentations at major conferences.