The two-day conference, Together for Hope: Shaping the Future of Addiction Care, will bring together academic and community-based organizations and people with lived experience from across Massachusetts to share actionable steps
WORCESTER - The Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center (BMC), a national leader in treatment and policy, will host its second annual Together for Hope: Shaping the Future of Addiction Care conference on April 16 and 17 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. The conference, in partnership with the City of Worcester’s Department of Health and Human Services, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, and RIZE Massachusetts, will unite addiction experts, advocates, and people with lived experience from across the state to collaborate, share knowledge, and inspire hope in the fight against addiction.
"Last year's inaugural conference brought together many different groups who have often been siloed from each other, including people with lived experience of addiction and recovery," said Miriam Komaromy, MD, Executive Director of the Grayken Center for Addiction. "This year, we are expanding that impact, convening professionals in the addiction field and people with lived experience from across Massachusetts to develop a shared vision for how to address addiction in our state."
Throughout the two-day conference, professionals in the addiction field will participate in roundtable discussions, panels, and breakout sessions focused on the themes of recovery, harm reduction, youth and family, and addiction treatment.
"Treating substance use disorder is a group effort. Events like this are important to unite academic and community-based organizations focused on prevention and treatment from across the state, to shape the future of care for people living with substance use disorder," said Matilde Castiel, MD, Commissioner of Health and Human Services, City of Worcester.
The keynote speakers will be Michael Curry. Esq., Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and Andrea Joy Campbell, Attorney General of Massachusetts.
Curry will deliver the keynote address on Wednesday, April 16. He is president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (the Mass League), which represents 50 health centers, serving more than one million patients from 300+ practice sites. He brings more than 35 years of experience and results in civil rights advocacy, health reform, and health equity.
Attorney General Campbell will serve as the keynote speaker on Thursday, April 17. In 2023, she was sworn in to be the 45th Attorney General (AG) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, pledging to build economic prosperity and stability for all residents, prioritize the mental health and well-being of children, and stop cycles of incarceration and violence.
In addition to Attorney General Campbell and Curry, the two-day conference will feature other notable researchers, clinicians, and community members, including:
- Oami Amarasingham, Esq., Deputy Director, Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA). She will lead the discussion: Overdose Prevention Centers: Implementation in a Shifting Legal and Regulatory Landscape.
- Ruth Potee, MD, Medical Director, Behavioral Health Network in Springfield. She will lead the discussion: Creating a Vision for What Methadone Treatment Could Look Like
- Cedric Woods, PhD, Director, Institute for New England Native American Studies at UMass Boston. He will discuss: Healthcare and Substance Use-Related Factors Affecting the Native Population.
RIZE Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) will serve as gold sponsors of the conference. RIZE is a public-private partnership dedicated to finding solutions to end the overdose crisis. BSAS oversees the statewide system of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services for individuals, families, and communities affected by substance addiction.
"RIZE is proud to support the Together for Hope Addiction Conference with the Grayken Center for Addiction at BMC. We're grateful to join others committed to finding solutions to the overdose crisis and uplifting voices with lived experience," said RIZE Massachusetts President & CEO, Julie Burns. "This gathering is a vital space for sharing ideas, driving change, and bringing hope to those impacted by addiction."
"The commitment of the Grayken Center for Addiction at BMC to advancing innovative, evidence-based approaches to substance use treatment and recovery is a vital asset to communities across Massachusetts," said BSAS Director, Deirdre Calvert. "The Together for Hope conference represents a powerful opportunity for providers, advocates, and individuals with lived and living experience to come together, share knowledge, and strengthen our collective response to substance use and substance use disorders. The Bureau of Substance Addiction Services is proud to support this important work."
For more details on the conference, visit Together For Hope 2025: Shaping the Future of Addiction Care. For more information on the Grayken Center for Addiction, visit its website. Connect with BMC on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
About Boston Medical Center
Boston Medical Center models a new kind of excellence in healthcare, where innovative and equitable care empowers all patients to thrive. We combine world-class clinicians and cutting-edge treatments with compassionate, quality care that extends beyond our walls. As an award-winning health equity leader, our diverse clinicians and staff interrogate racial disparities in care and partner with our community to dismantle systemic inequities. And as a national leader in research and the primary teaching affiliate for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, we’re driving the future of care.