A free Provider Education Summit will be offered by Operation UNITE and the Kentucky River Rural Health Opioid Program (RHOP) on Sept. 26, on the campus of Hazard Community and Technical College.

Entitled “Providing Hope to Our Communities,” this Summit will offer CEU/CMEs to physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselors, and licensed clinical professionals. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided.

Attendees must pre-register to Alyson Salyer by 5 pm on Friday, September 19, by calling 606-889-0422 or by email to asalyer@centertech.com.

Van Ingram, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, will be the keynote presenter and discuss the state’s response to the opioid epidemic. The day will include two breakout sessions, a panel discussion on Kentucky’s “Hope and Help” campaign, and a discussion about UNITE’s treatment voucher initiatives.

A flyer and detailed agenda can be found on Operation UNITE’s website: OperationUNITE.org.

Registration and the welcoming reception will begin at 8 am in the college’s First Federal Building, located at 1 Community College Drive, in Hazard. The Summit begins at 9 a.m. and will conclude about 4:30 p.m.

This is one of three provider education events that will be conducted in the Kentucky River District as part of a Rural Health Opioid Grant provided to UNITE by the federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).

This grant also supplies residential treatment vouchers and transportation assistance, as well as provides outreach and training for both schools and the community.

In addition to HRSA, the Summit is being sponsored by Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Hope in the Mountains and Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky.

For more information about the Rural Health Opioid Program, contact Program Director JoAnn Vanzant at 606-405-1360 or email to jvanzant@centertech.com.