About the Symposium

About the Symposium

The TN Drug User Health Research Symposium at Meharry is an annual 2-day conference focusing on research and evidence-based practices that expand access to care and improve outcomes for Tennesseans struggling with substance use and addiction. It is only conference of its kind in Tennessee.
seminar-attendees

Symposium Itinerary

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Time
Session
Presenter(s)
8:00-9:00 am
Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Networking
9:00-9:30 am
Welcome Remarks, Symposium Overview, and Establishment of Goals
Robert Cooper
9:30-9:35 am
Speaker Transition
9:35-10:25 am
Nashville CARES
Nashville CARES
10:25-10:30 am
Speaker Transition
10:30-11:20 am
Holistic Rural Health
A. Toni Young
11:20-11:25 am
Speaker Transition
11:25 am-12:15 pm
HIV Testing, PrEP, and PWUD
Robert Cooper
12:15-1:15 pm
Lunch Break
1:15-2:05 pm
Concurrent Track Sessions
Track A: Harm Reduction, Culture, and Regional Priorities - Orisha Bowers
Track B: Co-occurring Mental Health and SUD - Kandace Arlaud and Julia Watson
2:05-2:10 pm
Speaker Transition
2:10-3:00 pm
Concurrent Track Sessions
Track A: ROLLER Model / Harm Reduction Implementation - Mark Jenkins
Track B: Recovery and Harm Reduction - Sam MacMaster and Thomas Gooch
3:00-3:05 pm
Speaker Transition
3:05-3:35 pm
Wound Care Training
20-minute presentation + 10-minute Q&A
Greg Stafford
3:35-3:40 pm
Speaker Transition
3:40-4:10 pm
Drug Checking
20-minute presentation + 10-minute Q&A
Ryan Edgerton
4:10-5:00 pm
Break
5:00-9:00 pm
Risk To Reasons: Helping Black women connect HIV prevention and care to self-love, desire, power, and well-being, not fear or stigma.

We are pleased to invite you to our exclusive and empowering workshops activating the groundbreaking new initiative, Risk to Reasons, dedicated to increasing Black women's awareness, knowledge and use of prevention strategies. Join us to connect with other folks in Tennessee where you’ll learn more about Risk to Reasons, explore how self-love, desire, intimacy and power are all reasons for HIV prevention and care, and walk away with new tools for self-care and communicating with your providers and partners.

Dinner to be served.

Friday, August 21, 2026

Time
Session
Presenter(s)
8:00-9:00 am
Breakfast and Morning Networking
9:00-9:50 am
MOUD, Perinatal Substance Use, and Rural Health
John Rodney
9:50-9:55 am
Speaker Transition
9:55-10:45 am
HCV Guidelines and Practice
Cody Chastain
10:45-10:50 am
Speaker Transition
10:50-11:20 am
Pharmacy Access Audit / Buprenorphine Access
20-minute presentation + 10-minute Q&A
Leslie-Marie Buer
11:20-11:35 pm
Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Planning Team / Robert Cooper