CPP to Host Keynote and Panel Discussion on the Opioid Epidemic

The College of Professional Programs is hosting the first Community Engagement Speaker Series event, on the Opioid Epidemic Thursday January 30th, featuring:

• A keynote by Sarah Spier, Consultant and Founder of Follow the Poppy
• Panelists:
  • Dr. Francisco Velázquez, Spokane Regional Health District (SHRD)
  • Sheriff John Nowels, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dr. Tricia Hughes, EWU Counseling and Wellness Services

Event will be moderated by Dr. Rie Kobayashi, EWU School of Social Work. Doors open at 9:30 am. Open to the public. Classes welcome.

Date: Thursday January 30th
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Pence Union Building (PUB) Nysether Community Room (NCR) on the EWU Cheney campus (see map)

About the Guest Speakers:

Sarah Spier

From the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood career to the corridors of an international nonprofit, Sarah Spier’s life took an unexpected turn. Little did she know she was close to losing it all. Introduced to pills, she quickly became an IV heroin addict. The bright lights and achievements couldn’t overshadow the darkness of opioid addiction. But Sarah’s journey didn’t end there. Through sheer determination and the unwavering support of her mother, she fought her way back from the brink of death. Fourteen years later, Sarah is a survivor, speaker, consultant for integrated behavioral health and opioid treatment programs, an internationally certified coach, philanthropist, and advocate. She offers her professional services and shares her story through her opioid support organization, Follow The Poppy, providing education, hope, and support to those affected by addiction.

Dr. Francisco Velázquez

Francisco Velázquez, M.D., S.M., F.C.A.P. currently serves as the Spokane County Health Officer with the Spokane Regional Health District. Dr. Velázquez is very accomplished, and his background includes being the former President and CEO of Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories (PAML) and PAML Ventures, leading the Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials Division for Quest Diagnostics, Inc., as well as many other leadership roles in publicly traded companies. He received his training at the Mallory Institute of Pathology in Boston and the Boston University Medical Center. Subsequently, he obtained a master’s in health care management and policy at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In addition, Dr. Velázquez has held numerous clinical, academic, and executive positions in healthcare systems, academic institutions, and integrated delivery systems. He is very active in the community as a member of numerous boards for professional and nonprofit organizations and is currently the board chair for the Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County.

Sheriff John Nowels

Sheriff John Nowels has been serving in the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for more than 26 years. He was elected as Sheriff on November 8, 2022, and officially started his term on January 1, 2023. Sheriff Nowels graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1996 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. In 2019, he completed his Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. In September 2016, Sheriff Nowels also graduated from the 265th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia where he completed master’s level leadership courses from the University of Virginia. Since being elected in 2023, Sheriff Nowels was elected to serve as the President- Elect of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).

Dr. Tricia Hughes

Dr. Tricia Hughes is the Senior Director of Counseling and Wellness Services at EWU. Tricia’s path to her dream job at EWU began with stints in public health and K-12 education. Through these experiences, she designed health communication strategies, implemented evidence-based prevention and environmental programs, facilitated community processes and collaborations, provided professional development, and worked to radiate possibility and positivity. She will try most things once, which places her in fun experiences such as dance-offs and dunk tanks and highlights her sense of humor. She is a self-proclaimed coffee-aholic and dark chocolate connoisseur, who is passionate about physical activity and can be found outside with her family bike riding, skiing, hiking, golfing, or paddling.