Dr. Lynch is an emergency physician and EMS medical director from Buffalo, NY. He is a senior physician with UB|MD Emergency Medicine and holds faculty appointments at the University at Buffalo and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Lynch has spent over a decade in EMS leadership and several years as the system medical director at Mercy Flight of WNY (aeromedical and critical care transport).

Dr. Lynch is the creator of New York MATTERS. This program works to provide efficient buprenorphine training to emergency physicians and create linkages between the hospital and substance use treatment programs. He serves as a technical advisor for the Erie County and New York State Departments of Health. He and his team are proud to have received over 1 million dollars in grant funding to support the MATTERS program and widely expand access to high-quality addictions care. The team is also greatly appreciative to our partners at the New York State Department of Health for the contributions to the electronic referral platform.

Dr. Clemency has been involved in emergency care for nearly 20 years, beginning his career as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. Dr. Clemency completed both medical school and an MBA in health care administration in 4 years, before coming to Buffalo to continue his medical education. He is double boarded in Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. Dr. Clemency has become a local, regional and national leader in prehospital care, education and research. Dr. Clemency has authored over 30 peer reviewed publications, including 3 on the topic of opioid overdose. Dr. Clemency is the Research Director and oversees external funding.

Dr. O‘Brien is a veteran critical care paramedic, EMS educator, and EMS physician. His clinical practice is split between shifts in the Emergency Department and operational medicine. He provides medical direction to Erie Community College‘s EMS training programs and the Niagara County Sheriff‘s Office Emergency Response Team. Additionally, he is a Medical Director and Flight Physician for Mercy Flight of Western New York.

Dr. McNamara is an emergency physician and EMS medical director in Buffalo, NY. He currently practices at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, ECMC, and Buffalo General Medical Center. He serves as a medical director for several suburban fire departments within Erie and Niagara Counties.

Dr. Varughese is an emergency physician and EMS medical director in Buffalo, NY. He currently practices at Buffalo General Hospital, ECMC and the Veterans Affairs WNY Hospital. His focus is on telemedicine and community paramedicine. He serves as the Telemedicine Director.

Caleigh Loughran currently serves as program coordinator for New York MATTERS. She recently completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University at Buffalo. While pursuing her degree, Caleigh gained experience in the medical field working as a patient care technician in an emergency department, a nursing assistant, and as a research assistant on a clinical research program. Caleigh plans to continue her education and attend medical school.