CANDL Events
2026 Conference will be Wednesday March 4th!
Past Events
November 4, 2021
UTC University Center
The Community Action Poverty Simulation is an interactive immersion experience which sensitizes participants to the realities of poverty.
Lunch & Learn Series
Faculty Lunch and Learn Series
Chronic Pain: Interdisciplinary Approaches
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's School of Nursing invited all faculty, staff, and graduate students to attend a free Lunch and Learn Series focusing on multidisciplinary approaches to treating chronic pain. Thanks to all who took part! The series was completed on March 5.
October 2, 2018
Chronic Pain Overview
Dr. Matthew W. McClanahan, DO, MA
The October 2nd event was a presentation and discussion led by Dr. Matthew McClanahan, DO, MA, a local primary care physician who specializes in treating chronic pain holistically. He provided an overview of chronic pain and addressed questions such as: What is chronic pain from a neurological perspective? Who suffers from chronic pain? And, how do we begin to treat chronic pain in the midst of an opioid epidemic?
November 6, 2018
Physical Therapy, Movement and Chronic Pain
Dr. Jason Therrien, DPT
The November 6th event was a presentation and discussion led by Dr. Jason Therrien, DPT a local physical therapist who specializes in treating chronic pain. He provided an overview of his approach as a physical therapist to chronic pain and provided insight as to how he collaborates with other healthcare providers.
December 11, 2018
Mental Health, Counseling, and Chronic Pain
Tyler Orr, LPC/MHSP
Tyler provided an overview of his approach as a mental health counselor as to how he is able to help individuals who suffer with chronic pain. He shared how mental health counselors collaborate with other healthcare providers to ensure patients who live with chronic pain are receiving the help they need to potentially reduce their pain, improve their overall health, and quality of life.
January 8, 2019
Chronic Pain Education: Medicinal Plants, Nutrition and Behavioral Change
Holli Richey, LCSW, RH
Opiates, originally from the herb Opium Poppy, have historically worked exceptionally well to reduce pain; however, they have done little to enhance health. We can have a bigger conversation about pain, including what it's teaching us, when we turn our attention to medicinal plants, nutrition and behavioral changes which enhance our health rather than compromise it.
Holli is a holistic psychotherapist and medical herbalist, providing mind-body care in private practice in Chattanooga, TN. Besides her indoor practice, Holli facilitates mindfulness-based nature therapy and medicinal plant identification walks in the mountains of southeastern Tennessee. Holli graduated from Maryland University of Integrative Health with a Master of Science in Herbal Medicine and the University of Georgia from the School of Social Work.
February 5, 2019
Pain Management and Responsible Opiod Prescribing
Presented by Dr. John “Rett” Blake, III, M.D.
Dr. Blake discussed interdisciplinary approaches to chronic pain management as well as responsible opioid prescribing. He addressed opioid tapering risks and benefits.
John "Rett" Blake III, M.D. is the President and Medical Director of Specialists in Pain Management. Dr. Blake has practiced pain medicine in Chattanooga TN since 2009. Dr. Blake’s practice is multi-disciplinary, treating all types of pain. His specialty is minimally invasive interventional pain management and spine procedures. Dr. Blake’s professional commitment to the practice of pain management leads him to serve in various capacities of state wide committees and as President of The Tennessee Pain Society. He serves on the Commission on Pain and Addiction Medicine Education that outlined the 12 competencies for health care educators to address in curriculum as part of the TN Together plan to help end the opioid crisis in Tennessee.
March 5, 2019
Law Enforcement and the Opiod Crisis
Agent Thomas Farmer, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Thomas N. Famer is a Special Agent in Charge with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and is the State Director of the Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force (formerly named the Methamphetamine & Pharmaceutical Task Force). He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and has over 29 years of law enforcement experience of which 20 is in the field of drug enforcement. Tommy has received extensive specialized training and certifications from various accredited federal, state, local and private training programs such as DEA, FBI, Department of Justice, Homeland Security, TBI, etc., in the areas of advanced investigation, drug enforcement, chemical and pharmaceutical diversion, clandestine laboratory, special weapons and tactics.