Since 2011, Dr. Jean Bennett has served as the Philadelphia-based Regional Director for SAMHSA Region 3, which includes PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, and WV. Dr. Bennett’s portfolio spans SAMHSA’s wide array of behavioral health continuum priorities. Dr. Bennett consults with state officials and other stakeholders to promote using SAMHSA-funded grants, technical assistance, training, and other resources. Region 3’s most pressing recent focus areas are reducing pharmacy dispensing barriers of medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD), 42CFR Part 8, treatment for substance use disorders in adolescents, the workforce, expanding access to MOUD treatment for individuals in correctional facilities and care the pregnant women with OUD. Harm Reduction and Naloxone saturation, 988 crisis systems of care, prevention, and addiction education are additional longstanding regional learning collaboratives. Elevating policy issues by learning from the field is a key priority.
Dr. Bennett has also served as the Senior Advisor to the HHS Assistant Secretary for Administration, in Public Health Preparedness and Response roles with HHS, the Veterans Administration in San Francisco, and Children’s Hospital Boston. Jean retired as a Navy Nurse Corps Captain after assignments in pediatric, ICU, surgical, medical-oncology, and outpatient settings, and spent 10 years in medical recruiting. Dr. Bennett has four degrees including a PhD in organization and management and has co-authored recent articles on “The Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis,” and “Integrating Evidence-Based Guidelines on Pain and Opioids into Medical School Education."
Session 6: Breaking Barriers: Navigating Nonclinical Challenges and Access to Buprenorphine
Thursday, April 24, 2025
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
