
2019
Meeting Schedule
Thursday October 31st
7:00-8:00pm Registration
8:00-9:30pm Meet and Greet
Friday November 1
6:00-7:00am Early-bird topic discussion meeting
7:00-8:00am Breakfast and Registration
8:00-8:15am Welcome/Opening remarks
8:15-9:30am Kevin McCauley: The Brain and
Recovery: Update on Neuroscience of Addiction
9:30-10:45am John Fromson: The Role of Spirituality
in the Recovery of Physicians
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-Noon John Breen: Fitness in Recovery
Noon-12:45pm Panel discussion
1:00-2:30pm Alanon Luncheon
2:30-3:15pm Step Meeting
3:30-4:30pm Exercise in Recovery Workshop
4:45-5:30pm Step Meeting
Dinner on your own
8:00-9:00pm AA and Alanon Meetings
Saturday November 2
6:00-7:00am Early Bird topic discussion meeting
6:00-7:00am Exercise in Recovery Workshop
7:00-8:00am Breakfast (provided)
8:00-8:15am Housekeeping remarks
8:15-9:30am Kevin McCauley: Memo to Self:
Protecting Sobriety with the Science of Safety
9:30-10:30am Mark Stelzer: Spirituality and Religion
10:30-10:45am Break
10:45-Noon Penny Ziegler: Spirituality
for the Non-Believer
Noon-12:45pm Panel Discussion
1:00-2:30pm Luncheon- Refuge Recovery
2:30-3:15pm Step Meeting
3:30-4:30pm Exercise in Recovery Workshop
4:45-5:30pm Step Meeting
6:30-9:00pm 42nd Annual NEPG Banquet
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Sunday November 3
6:30-7:30am Early Bird topic discussion meeting
6:30-7:30am Exercise in Recovery Workshop
7:30-8:30am Breakfast
8:30-9:30am Spiritual Message: Mark Stelzer
9:30-10:15am Farewells
Bios
Kevin McCauley, M.D. is a non-practicing physician who has worked in the field of addiction treatment for nearly two decades. Kevin first became interested in the treatment of substance use disorders while serving as a Naval Flight Surgeon for Marine Corps heavy-lift helicopter and fighter/attack squadrons. He has given over two thousand lectures on addiction and recovery world wide. His main interest is the debate over whether or not addiction can rightfully be considered a “disease.”
John A. Fromson, M.D. is vice chair for community psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and chief of psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. He was the founding director and served as president of Massachusetts Physician Health Services, He is chair of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry's Committee on Physician Health, In 2010 he was elected Class A Trustee of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc.
John Breen is a sports physiologist and an elite multi-sport coach and athlete. His athletes have medaled at the world championships, competed at the Olympic Trials, and raced internationally. John founded Fitness in Recovery in 2015 to give back to the recovery community.
Sidra Ghafoor, M.D. completed an accelerated 7-year B.S./M.D. program at Villanova University and Drexel University College of Medicine. She is currently completing an Addiction Psychiatry fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Ghafoor treats dual-diagnosis patients at The Wedge Medical Center. She is the co-founder and current president of Fitness in Recovery.
Reverend Mark Stelzer, Ph.D. is a priest of the Diocese of Springfield, MA currently serves as a full-time humanities faculty member and chaplain at Elms College in Chicopee, MA. In addition to his personal involvement in Twelve Step recovery, Mark regularly facilitates workshops and retreats throughout the US on topics
related to addiction and recovery.
Penny Ziegler, M.D. is the Executive Director of International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous (IDAA). She
received her medical degree from The George Washington University in Washington, DC and completed a psychiatry residency at The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, MD. A board certified addiction psychiatrist and certified fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Ziegler has been working in the field of addiction medicine for more than 20 years.
CME Credits
Up to 10 category one credit hours are available. Accreditation is through Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA.