We are proud to present the
14th Annual Vermont Conference on Addictive Disorders 

Pathways to
Recovery from Addiction

Bridging the gap between treatment,
discharge and enduring recovery

October 3rd & 4th, 2019, Lake Morey Resort 
Day of Registration Still Available!

2019 Vermont Conference on Addictive Disorders
Click here for the Conference Schedule

Featured Speakers

Marty Boldin, LICSW, MLADC, LCS, CPS, CPM, ABD

 Marty is the Director of Recovery Services at Aware Recovery Care.   Most recently Marty Boldin was an advisor to Governor Chris Sununu   on matters pertaining to addiction and behavioral health prevention,   treatment, and recovery.  He was also a Dean’s Fellow   and PhD Candidate at the Boston University School of Social   Work.  As an accomplished addictions and social work professional   since the mid 1980’s, Marty has been involved with the development and implementation of several social service initiatives in a variety of multi-disciplinary settings across the United States and has worked in Canada, Russia, and Northern Ireland. He has extensive clinical experience in substance abuse treatment, prevention, intervention, supervision, and is considered an expert in behavioral health and health care policy.  He has been trained and/or certified in several clinical modalities: 12-Step Based Treatment Recovery, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, Contingency Management, Family Systems Therapy, Adolescent, Couples, and Individual Counseling.  In 2017, Marty earned his Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies from The Trauma Center at JRI.  He has received extensive training in Clinical Supervision and is licensed to provide clinical supervision in the State of New Hampshire.  Previously he served as a Commissioner for the New Hampshire Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery.  He has served on several Boards of Directors for many non-profits.  In March of 2018, Marty was named New Hampshire’s Social Worker of the Year by the New Hampshire Chapter of the NASW and White Horse Addiction Center's Legislative Leadership award. Marty has also served as the Director of Youth Services at the City of Manchester and Director of Social Services at Child Health Services. His Master of Social Work was earned from the University of Kentucky in 1994.

Patricia Fisher, MD

 Patricia joined the University of Vermont  (UVM) Health Network -         Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) in Berlin as their Chief Medical   Officer in 2018. She is a board-certified hospitalist. Prior to her role at   CVMC,   she served as the Vice President of UVM Health Network   Credentialing   and Enrollment, medical director for Case Management   and Medical   Staff Affairs as well as the Family Medicine Inpatient   Service /   Ambulatory Care Unit. Her professional areas of expertise     include healthcare delivery execution, quality improvement clinical standardization, regulatory / Joint Commission compliance and resource / budget management. Patti joined UVM Medical Center in 2013 after 10 years at the Community Health Center of Burlington (CHCB), where she served as staff physician and later as medical director.

Dr. Fisher earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and she completed her residency through Forbes' Family Practice Residency in Pittsburgh, where she was chief resident. She is a graduate of the American Association for Physician Leadership's Chief Medical Officer Academy.

Patti has had tremendous impact on the communities she serves, both as a volunteer and medical professional. As a volunteer, her efforts include supporting the disaster response to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Irma with Heart to Heart International and ongoing medical support in Haiti. In Vermont, Patti has conducted physicals for Vermont farm workers in partnership with the Mexican Consulate, served as medical volunteer at the 2016 Special Olympics Summer Games and supported Vermont Homeless Health Care's warming shelter.

As a medical professional, Patti was a part of the primary care team at CHCB, working with John Brooklyn, MD, that obtained their DEA licensure to provide buprenorphine as a part of a comprehensive primary care practice. As medical director, she created policies and standards around controlled substance prescribing. When Patti moved onto UVM Medical Center, her leadership was instrumental in developing protocols for primary care and having most of their providers obtain DEA waivers for prescribing buprenorphine. This allowed the medical center to take on less acute patients from the Chittenden Clinic so that the Clinic could provide a higher level of care to those they served. Patti also served on VT State Attorney Sarah George's Safe Injection Site Commission, often testifying in front of Vermont legislator as to sites' efficacy as a harm reduction model. Patti is an outspoken advocate in helping to improve access to treatment for individuals suffering from substance use disorders, encouraging primary care physicians and the emergency department at CVMC in prescribing buprenorphine, while serving to educate about SUD treatment, safe prescribing practices and about harm reduction strategies. Patti has also served on the Board of the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County from 2015 through 2017. 

Workshop Session Leaders Include:

Kelly Dolan Mitchell, MA, MEd, LCMHC

Kelly has been a long time member of the clinical staff at Valley Vista. Currently, Kelly serves as the Program Manager at the Valley Vista Women's Program in Bradford. In addition to serving as the current program manager, Kelly has also served as a Primary Therapist on the Women's Unit. Prior to returning to Valley Vista in 2016, Kelly served as a Child and Family Clinician at the Clara Martin Center. Kelly has worked with a variety of populations across multiple settings. She is a psychodynamic practitioner and has implemented three successful psychodynamic groups as a part of the program curriculum at Valley Vista. Kelly is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in the State of Vermont and has earned a Masters of Arts in clinical psychology from St. Michael's College in Burlington and a Masters of Education from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. 

Peter Espenshade, MA, CRC, President & CEO 

Peter Espenshade is super proud of his long-term recovery and has been the president of Recovery Vermont and Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (VAMHAR) since 2013. VAMHAR is a statewide information and advocacy organization that supports all paths to recovery from addiction and mental health conditions. Since 1939, VAMHAR has worked to promtote mental wellness in Vermont and to be the state's voice in education, training and community support. Prior to his work at VAMHAR, Peter worked in philanthropy as a VP at the Vermont Community Foundation and as the Executive Director of the Lake Champlain Land Trust.  He is an active supporter of the arts and local theater. Peter earned his Masters of Art degree from Yale University and is a graduate of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Peter is a Certified Recovery Coach and serves as a leader in recovery coach training.

Vini Emery, CRC, Program Manager

Vini is the Program Manager for the Recovery Coaches in the Emergency Department at UVM Medical Center. Vini has 17 years experience working with a variety of communities such as pregnant and parenting teenagers, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, and children and families. Vini also brings experience working in mental health (both as a peer and as a support person) and as a housing specialist. Vini has many years of volunteer work with Social Justice movements that address race, class, disability, immigration, gender, and sexuality. Vini strives for equity, accessibility, and respect in the work done. Vini is a family member to several people with Substance Use Disorder, and is honored to be part of the wonderful recovery community in Vermont.

Click here for the Conference Program and Schedule

October is a wonderful time of year in Vermont featuring specatular fall foliage and mild weather. We hope that you'll join us for this year's Conference providing valuable insight on pathways from addiction to enduring recovery that will empower not only patients, but the practitioner as well.

Register Today!