The Moritz Center for Societal Impact hosted its latest Lunch & Learn on April 22, spotlighting faculty and postdoctoral research at two ends of a shared question: how do structural forces shape who gets care, and who gets left out.
Dr. Fiona Conway, associate professor and Ruby Lee Piester Centennial Fellow in Services to Children and Families at UT Social Work, opened with an overview of substance use disorder treatment, tracing the care continuum from inpatient medical supervision through outpatient treatment to recovery residences — a level formally added by SAMHSA in 2023. Conway, who directs adjunct faculty affairs and serves as associate director of research at the Addiction Research Institute, emphasized that most substance use disorder care is self-pay, a barrier that keeps many people from accessing treatment at all.
Her presentation centered on recovery support services and the growing role of mobile technology in filling gaps. Conway shared findings from a two-year study of 30 people in recovery who used a phone app to manage cravings, stress and anxiety. Participants reported the app was easy to use and the breathing exercises effective. She is now developing a proposal for a digital therapeutic that would deliver EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy or breathing exercises through a mobile device — a layer of support designed to work alongside, not replace, existing treatment.
Dr. Khamron Michaels, a postdoctorate fellow at UT Social Work, followed with a look at pulmonary function testing and what standard interpretive frameworks miss. Michaels, a registered respiratory therapist, argued that race-based correction factors built into spirometry reference norms can obscure real disparities rather than account for them. His research examines socioeconomic factors in pulmonary disease outcomes, with an eye toward race-neutral standards that more accurately reflect patient health.
The Moritz Center for Societal Impact hosts Lunch & Learn sessions throughout the academic year. Additional lunch and learn sessions will take place starting in the Fall 2026 semester.