Advisory Committees

At the OTP TTA Center, we believe that meaningful change is driven by the voices of those directly impacted. To ensure our work is guided by real-world insights from people with lived and living experiences, we have established two community advisory committees; the Patient Advisory Committee and a Staff Advisory Committee. These committees play an important role in shaping our strategies, resources, and training offerings to better serve OTPs across Massachusetts.

Patient Advisory Committee

The Patient Advisory Committee ensures that the voices of those who access care or services at OTPs guide our work. As we develop training and resources for OTP staff, they help us:

Thoroughly reflect patient needs and barriers to care.
Ensure training prioritizes dignity, respect, and recovery.
Support the development of resources that incorporate a variety of patient experiences and perspectives.

Staff Advisory Committee

The Staff Advisory Committee brings together OTP staff from diverse backgrounds, geographies and levels of practice to guide our initiatives. Members:

Offer input on focus areas and resource development.
Shape culturally and linguistically relevant tools.
Share operational insights to improve staff and patient experiences.

Why Advisory Committees Matter

By bringing together patients and staff, these committees:

Foster collaboration and trust.
Ensure our resources are relevant and responsive to real-time feedback from OTP experts.
Address the needs of OTPs across Massachusetts.

Committee members are asked to serve for at least one year, with the option to renew their commitment on an annual basis. Each year we put out a call for new members if existing members choose to no longer participate. We greatly value the contributions of our committee members in advancing patient-centered care and staff well-being, and thank them for all their work! If you’re interested in joining a future committee, please reach out and Contact Us.

Our Committee Members

Our Patient and Staff Advisory Committees are made up of dedicated individuals who bring invaluable lived experience and professional expertise to guide our work. Their insights help shape our training, resources, and initiatives to better support OTPs across Massachusetts. We deeply appreciate the contributions of everyone involved.

Our advisory committees are made up of passionate individuals—see who’s involved below.

Staff Advisory Committee

Hiroko K. Bojarski

APRN

High Point Treatment Center, Brockton

Phoebe Cushman

MD, MS

Medical Director, Framingham Opioid Treatment Program & Office Based Addiction Treatment, Spectrum Health Systems

LaShaan Depina

MS,LMHC

Program Director, High Point Treatment Center New Bedford OTP

Anthony English

MBA, PA-C

BHN OTPs (Holyoke, Ware, Palmer, Springfield, and on call for OTP clinics in Eastern Mass

Alanna Flaherty

Administrative Support Staff, Addiction Immediate Care – UMass Memorial Health Harrington

Beth Lafontaine

LICSW, LCSW

Supervisor Addiction Immediate Care UMass Harrington

Patient Advisory Committee

Laura Fennelly-Murphy
Jelena Dansby
Kaitlyn Small
Vanessa Krupa
Melissa Canejo
Brianna B.

Michael Jellison
Lindsey Botelho
Matthew Blanchard, Jr.
Tara Grace
Vilma Mandes
Sue M.