November 19, 2025, 9 am to 3:15 pm

9:00 am: Welcome, Conference Overview, Opening Comments

• Gregory Cherpes, MD, NADD-CC, Medical Director

Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Programs

• Kristin Ahrens, Deputy Secretary

Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Programs

• Julie Graziane, MD, Medical Director / Chief Psychiatric Officer

Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

9:15 Ken Martz, Psy.D. MBA is a licensed psychologist, bestselling author, and expert in emotional development. He has worked in the treatment and management of addiction for the past 30 years across settings including outpatient, residential, and hospital settings. He was formerly the Special Assistant to the Secretary for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Policy Director in Substance Use Disorders of the Governor’s Policy Office. Dr. Martz will start the day with an overview of neuroplasticity.

10:15 am: Break

10:30 am: Brandi Kelly, Ph.D is the Clinical Director for Louisiana’s OCDD and received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University in 1998 and a post-doctoral master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology from Alliant University in 2002. She has worked extensively in community and residential-based programs providing support planning, staff training, and behavioral health services to individuals with developmental disabilities and has published research on assessment and treatment of behavioral and mental health concerns of individuals with developmental disabilities. Dr. Kelly’s presentation will provide a clinical focus on how to use neuroplasticity data.

11:30 am Lunch Break

1:00 pm Calliope Holingue, MPH, Ph.D is a research faculty member at the Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. A psychiatric epidemiologist by training, she has a joint academic appointment as an assistant professor at the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Holingue will share current research and developments related to neuroplasticity.

2:00 pm Break

2:15 Q&A with All Speakers facilitated by Dr. Gregory Cherpes

3:00 Closing Remarks, Dr. Gregory Cherpes

Schedule