Addiction World Conference 2026

Matthew J Maguire III is a Healthcare industry leader. Working in multiple fronts of medicine, Matthew is currently the Director of Nursing for Preasum Healthcare and oversees a 200 bed substance abuse and mental health facility In the Heart of the Philidelphia. Prior to his roll in Nursing leadership. Matthew was a successful EMS Coordinator with 2 of the States' major hospital systems. As well as working 12 years as a Paramedic in one of the nation's busiest systems. Matthew is also a FEMA Medical Specialist with New Jersey Task Force One. As well as regular speaker at both state and national medical conventions. He is also very active in pediatric care, safe infant sleep, and SIDS education as well as homeless outreach and harm reduction. Matthews eclectic experiences in healthcare brings a unique perspective to the healthcare industry.

University Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.

Nadolphia Andou, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker and founder of a private practice specializing in trauma recovery, culturally responsive therapy, and harm reduction. With over a decade of experience working with diverse communities, Nadolphia integrates anti-oppressive frameworks to support individuals and families affected by addiction, anxiety, and relational challenges

Caroline Kagia is a Certified Addictions Therapist, Speaker, and Life coach with a strong passion for mental health advocacy and emotional healing. She specializes in addressing chemical and behavioral addictions—especially among women—and provides guidance to individuals, families, and corporate organizations navigating substance abuse, social media addiction, and emotional trauma. Caroline is also a sought-after speaker who uses faith-based principles, especially Isaiah 61:1, to bring hope and restoration to those silently struggling. Her work extends to empowering parents, supporting high-functioning women battling addiction, and helping communities build awareness around the hidden costs of addiction.

Kathleen Lancaster is an epidemiologist currently working for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She is the program manager for the Substance Use Disorders in Long-Term Care program for the Commonwealth. She received her undergrad in health care administration from the University of Oklahoma and her master’s in public health from the University of Southern California. She is a former detox nurse with 10 years of experience bedside. She spends her free time volunteering with the United States Air Force Special Operations Command and has previously served as the chair of their Patient Advisory Board.

Emily completed her PhD in Health Promotion & Behavior at the University of Georgia in 2026 and is now a post-doctoral research fellow at Columbia University. She specializes in mHealth and eHealth intervention development for substance use populations and implementation science.

Graduate in Law and PhD student in the Economics and Business programme at the University of Extremadura. Teacher of Training for Employment and with Higher Training in Business Management and Marketing, Gender Equality and Occupational Risks, Occupational Training, Project Manager and Expert in Banking. He has worked as Head of Educational Residence for the Regional Government of Extremadura, Business Unit Manager in Corporate Banking and Socio-educational Insertion Technician for a European project in consortium with the Ministry of Education. He is a regular contributor with articles on e-business for SMEs, business economics, technology, viability of business initiatives and financial plans. He has actively participated in forums such as the Observatory of Chinese Policy, the EOI and Foundations of socio-economic studies as well as with international financial analysts, Institutes of European Studies and Latin American Universities.

Kevin Connelly is the author of Breathe Into It: Break Out of Addiction and Dial Into Your Body, and the founder of Reconnect Breath. He has trained more than 100 instructors globally in evidence-based breathwork and cold exposure facilitation, guiding over 6,000 participants worldwide. Kevin conducts original research on controlled breathing and its influence on anxiety, stress, and addiction, and has developed breath protocols designed to alleviate compulsive behaviors and support recovery. He regularly leads professional trainings, workshops, and instructor certifications, bringing science-based breath practices into both therapeutic and wellness settings.

Rafael Cortina is a licensed and bilingual (English-Spanish) therapist. He has over 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Rafael is a Master Addiction Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Gestalt Therapist, and a Certified Gestalt Couples Therapist. He has specialized training in EMDR, TRM, addiction treatment, and trauma work. He is an Adjunct Faculty Member at National University and a Newsletter Editor/Board Member at the International Association of Advancement in Gestalt Therapy. He has experience working with Mood Disorders (Depression and Bipolar), Anxiety Disorders, Addiction, Grief and Loss issues, Dual Diagnosis (Substance abuse and a mental health disorder), Trauma work, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender clients, HIV/AIDS Counseling, Dreamwork, Couples therapy, and Gestalt oriented psychotherapy. As presenter and facilitator of several workshops, training, lectures, international conferences, and supervision, virtually and in-person, in Mexico, USA, Australia, Canada, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Tariku Neme Afata is currently enrolled as a third-year PhD student at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway in collaboration with Jimma University and he specializes in Environmental health sciences. Before Tariku decided to join the Ph.D. program he already worked as a lecturer at the College of Oromia, Ethiopia for more than ten years. Currently, he is researching micronutrient deficiency of pregnant women due to malnutrition, and agrochemicals' effect on soil micronutrients at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway, and now he has more than twelve publications.

A professional lecturer, facilitator, student adviser, and education consultant with wide experience in developing and providing adult education and training for health care professionals. Skilled career professional with more than 15 years’ experience in health care delivery and training in Lebanon, United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. Experienced with sufficient knowledge in health care research, evidence-based practices, and have supervised dozens of research theses for masters projects. Has published many articles in peer reviewed journals, and participated in many national and international Conferences. A current reviewer in several international peer reviewed journals and is an Elsevier and Springer recognized Reviewer

Ro’i Rose is a third-year Psy.D. student at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) with over 20 years of experience in trauma-informed coaching. His doctoral research centers on 'Beyond Rehab,' a project dedicated to designing a sustainable, nature-based community for the unhoused. This model integrates trauma-informed therapy, meditation, and somatic healing to address the root causes of addiction. Drawing from his own journey to sustained abstinence and his training at the Monastic Academy (MAPLE) , Ro'i aims to bridge somatic resilience with communal recovery.

Dr. Chris Allen Shreve has been in the field of mental health, trauma and substance abuse for the last 3 decades. Dr. Shreve has acquired an enormous amount of clinical knowledge and training as a doctor of mental health counselling, but mostly from the thousands of patients he has served. This exposure has led Dr. Shreve down the road to complementary and alternative medicine or Wellness therapy. Dr. Chris believes firmly in the mind’s ability to treat all of our issues, both mental and physical health disorders. He states, “The science of Quantum physics, in which our thoughts can create our world and realities, holds the keys to wellness and healing.” Being in private practice with 33 years of counseling experience, he has worked with over 30,000 patients; including those with substance abuse, co-occurring, personality disorders, traumatic brain injuries, depression, anxiety and PTSD. Chris’s approach to these disorders includes intensive psychotherapy as well as combining many holistic practices to create a very individualized and self-empowering therapy. Currently, Dr. Shreve is director of Dr. Shreve’s Clinical, Wellness & Trauma Center in Bingham Farms MI. Dr. Shreve is an author with a new book coming out called, “Shut up…Stop talking to me…!” The issues related to negative inner thoughts. Chris, affectionately known as “ShreveO,” loves to cook and entertain his friends and family and is honoured to the proud father of three wonderful children, Zachary 34, Malia 23 and Mallory 19.

Rong Hai is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Miami. She obtained her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining the University of Miami, she worked as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Chicago under the mentorship of Nobel Laureate Professor James Heckman. Her research focuses on human capital investment, inequality, and health. She conducts her research projects through cutting-edge numerical computation methods with large-scale data. Her papers have been presented at over 15 top universities and more than 20 prestigious conferences in the U.S. and around the world. She was awarded the 50 Best Undergrad Professors by Poets&Quants in 2023.