Amanda brings more than 18 years of experience working in the field, with a strong background in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). Throughout her career, she has witnessed—and actively challenged—the systemic and community-level mistreatment of people receiving MOUD and people who use drugs (PWUD). While harm reduction was not always centered in her early work, that perspective shifted about eight years ago when she began working for CMS. During that time, her commitment to person-centered, harm reduction–focused care deepened, and she became even more passionate about advocating for dignity, respect, and evidence-based support for those impacted by substance use.
Amanda joined this community because she believes strongly in reducing the stigma surrounding people who use drugs and in educating our youth with honest, compassionate information about drugs and substance use. She is inspired by the way this community comes together to confront the opioid crisis and work toward meaningful change.
Outside of her professional work, Amanda is passionate about movement and wellness. She loves running and have completed five marathons—three of them major marathons. Most of her mornings begin with a 4 a.m. walk with her dog, which helps her start the day grounded and focused. One of her biggest personal goals this year is to run an ultramarathon or complete my first triathlon. Professionally, Amanda hopes to push herself to speak at more conferences. While being on stage can be intimidating, she knows the knowledge and experiences she carries can help move the conversation around the opioid crisis and harm reduction forward.
A fun fact many people don’t know about her is that she is a proud grandma to a beautiful, brave four-year-old Taurus girl who brings so much joy into her life. When she needs to unwind, she enjoys a warm cup of tea from Honey Bee Sage and Wellness, running, and spending quiet time reading. Her personal motto is simple: “Do what you love 24/7.”
