RESEARCH TEAM

LEVIN SIBLEY-SCHWARTZ, LICSW

Levin Schwartz, LICSW, is the founder of Values Based Behavioral Strategies, LLC, providing implementation support and clinical consultation to public systems advancing evidence‑based mental health and addiction treatment. As former Assistant Superintendent of Clinical & Reentry Services at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, he led efforts that helped establish a nationally recognized, mindfulness‑based opioid treatment model. A graduate of Smith College (MSW) and UMass Amherst (BA), Levin’s PhD work in CHE aims to bridge public health and public safety—advancing treatment as a pathway to sustainable public safety.​​

levschwartz@umass.edu

SAMUEL TARPLIN 

Sam Tarplin is a public health researcher and clinician who has been in long-term recovery from opioid use disorder for over a decade. This lived experience gives Sam a uniquely integrated perspective to his research. He holds a B.A. in Addiction Studies and an MPH from UMass Amherst, and has spent eight years conducting research on substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and health outcomes, often within carceral settings. He has been on research teams at UMass Amherst, Baystate Health, and the Wilton Ambulance Service. Beyond research, Sam has worked as an SUD counselor in several clinical settings. His expertise is frequently sought in the courtroom, where he serves as an expert witness in criminal cases involving drug use and distribution. Alongside his academic work, Sam remains active in frontline care as an Advanced EMT and Rescue Lieutenant with the Greenfield, NH Volunteer Fire Department. For his doctoral studies, Sam aims to investigate how structural and interpersonal stigma impacts health outcomes for people who use drugs, with the goal of bridging the gap between clinical best practices and real-world care. ​​​​​​​

starplin@umass.edu

KATE SAUNDERS