INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Below you will find a list of our instructors in addition to the description of their backgrounds which highlight their expertise specific to substance abuse and addiction. All of our instructors have received masters or doctorate levels in their field.  Esquire Anthony, D.O. Dr. Esquire Anthony, D.O. is a healthcare professional with 16 years experience in medical & scientific strategic communications, developing working relationships with key clinical and academic opinion leaders and possesses medical knowledge in several therapeutic areas including anesthesia and pain management, psychiatry, addiction medicine, oncology, infectious and clinical intervention strategies. He has practiced clinical medicine and also served as a Director of Medical Affairs in Medical and Scientific Education for the pharmaceutical industry. He is currently Founder and Director of Metro Medical Services; consulting on the integrity, accuracy and impact of medical and scientific communication offerings; and organizing, planning, and implementing live scientific programs, at international, national and regional scientific symposia/conferences and advisory boards. In addition, Dr. Anthony consults with the NYS Department of Health and the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services by providing psychopharmacology/neurophysiology lectures for CASAC trainees and presents cutting edge research data concerning medical and healthcare disparity topics/solutions at satellite NYS DOH behavioral health facilities.   Louis Burns, L.C.S.W., C.A.S.A.C.  Louis Burns provides substance abuse and addiction related instruction as an Adjunct Faculty member at City College of NY as well as the Fordham CASAC Program. Mr. Burns has previous experience directing substance abuse programs for veterans and outpatient participants. He has worked intensively with adolescents at risk for substance abuse, HIV/Aids, truancy, psychiatric symptoms, gang related activities, behavioral problems, and juvenile delinquency. He also worked as an agency Individual Consultant  regarding development and implementation of family track treatment program. There Mr. Burns focused on assessing the agency's current practice and expanding program to include an understanding of family dynamics using a systemic treatment approach. Other past responsibilities included development of training seminars; implementation; staff development; developing tools for measuring treatment progress; collaborated with various agencies under the NARCO Freedom umbrella. Mr. Burns is currently serving as the Chairperson for the Addictions Institute for NASW.  Ellen Friedman, Ph.D.  Ellen Friedman is the Project Supervisor of the New York State OASAS Hopeline. The Hopeline provides referrals to substance abuse and problem gambling programs throughout New York State. Dr. Friedman also teaches in the Post-Master's Substance Abuse Program at New York University Silver School of Social work, is a grant reviewer for SAMHSA grants and has a private practice as a psychotherapist and supervisor. Prior to joining the staff at MHA-NYC, she served as director and clinical director at many substance abuse treatment programs including: methadone maintenance programs, outpatient, inpatient detoxification and a therapeutic community. She has contributed three book chapters on substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. She has done numerous presentations at local, national and international conferences. Dr. Friedman has a Master's in Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work, a certificate in psychoanalytic psychotherapy from Metropolitan Institute and a PhD in Clinical Social Work from New York University Silver School of Social Work .   Shelley Scheffler, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.  Dr. Scheffler has acquired a rich and diverse range of expertise in the fields of mental health and substance abuse treatment. Prior to joining CEIC in March 2010, she was a member of the New Jersey Co-Occurring Task Force, the Middlesex County Co-Occurring Committee and the National Policy Academy on Improving Services for Youth with Mental Health and Co-Occurring Disorders Committee. She organized a countywide committee to coordinate services to promote jail diversion for individuals with severe mental illness using the Sequential Intercept Model, and administered a modified therapeutic community in the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center. She was also responsible for developing specialized substance abuse services for individuals with developmental delays, cognitive deficits and fetal alcohol syndrome. As Director of Social Services, Dr. Scheffler created and initiated a family program within a modified therapeutic community serving persons with AIDS. A dynamic trainer, Dr. Scheffler has developed curriculum and workshops on substance abuse, mental health and co-occurring disorders for the Homeless Project of the Hunter-Brookdale Center on Aging, taught at the NYU Silver School of Social Work, and authored “Substance Abuse and Homelessness” in Clinical Work With Substance Abusing Clients. As an outgrowth of her commitment to promoting outstanding clinical care, Shelley initiated a citywide forum for substance abuse treatment counselors that hosted a major conference annually.