TOPIC

8:15 – 8:30 am (CST)
(15 min)

Introduction & Welcome

Jasmine Jefferson, M.S.
Manager, Training and Development, HCIFS

Katie Welch, M.S., ABC-MB
Senior Director, Crime Lab Services, HCIFS 

8:45 – 9:30 am (CST)
(45 min)

Drug Chemistry Services
and Trends in Harris County

Kristen J. Head, M.S., ABC-DA
Forensic Chemist 2 – Drug Chemistry Laboratory, HCIFS

9:45 – 10:45 am (CST)
(60 min)

Houston Diversion Program

Michael Mills, M.S.
Diversion Group Supervisor, 
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
 (CST) (60 min)

Houston & Harris County:
A “Dose” of Reality

Jerry McClain, B.S.
Senior Police Officer – Narcotics Division, 
Houston Police Department 

1:00 – 2:00 pm (CST)
(60 min)

Retrospective Review of Hemp/Marijuana Decision Point Assays

Kay McClain, B.S., ABC-DA
Director – Drug Chemistry Laboratory, HCIFS

2:15 – 3:00 pm (CST)
(45 min)

Forensic Evidence
Handling

Eliseo J. Guzman, B.S.
Forensic Evidence Technician, Evidence Intake, HCIFS 

3:15 – 4:00 pm (CST)
(45 min)

"Keeping Up with the Quality:" The Reality of QA in the Crime Lab

Michal Pierce, M.S., ASQ CMQ/OE
Senior Director, Quality Management, HCIFS

8:15 – 8:25 am (CST)
(10 min)

2^nd Day Welcome

Jasmine Jefferson, M.S.
Manager, Training and Development, HCIFS

8:30 – 9:30 am (CST)
(60 min)

Drug-Related Deaths in Harris County

Use of Toxicology and Drug Chemistry in Death Investigations

Ana Lopez, M.D.
Assistant Medical Examiner/Resident Director, HCIFS

9:45 – 10:45 am (CST)
(60 min)

Forensic Toxicology Trends 
in Harris County

Teresa Gray, Ph.D., F-ABFT
Director – Forensic Toxicology, HCIFS

Jeanna Mapeli, M.S., D-ABFT-FT
Toxicologist 3 /Supervisor – Forensic Toxicology, HCIFS

11:00 am – 12:30 pm
 (CST) (90 min)

Major Drug Classes and Their Effects & Opiate Trends in the United States

Laura Labay, Ph.D., F-ABFT, DABCC-TC
Director of Toxicological Services/Forensic Toxicologist, NMS Labs

1:30 – 2:30 pm (CST)
(60 min)

The Ever-Changing
Impaired Driving Landscape

James Maisano, M.S.
Project Manager – DEC Program Central Region, 
International Association of Chiefs of Police

2:45 – 3:45 pm (CST)
(60 min)

Defense Perspectives in
DUI/D Litigation

Mark Thiessen, J.D.
Trial Attorney, Thiessen Law Firm

Accredited Continuing Education (CE/CME)

Activity Title: 2022 Topics in Forensic Science (TIFS) Conference: Drug Chemistry & Forensic Toxicology (IFSCME 05-22)

Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences designates this LIVE activity for a maximum of 11 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. No commercial support was obtained for this activity. None of the planners or presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. 

Participant Instructions: Attend the live course via Teams or in person, and complete the assessment and evaluation.

Continued Certification (CC)/MOC Recognition: This activity meets the American Board of Pathology's (ABPath) Continuing Certification (CC) requirements for Lifelong Learning (LL). Up to 11.0 ABPath Credits will be submitted for the learner who successfully meets the assessment and evaluation requirements for this activity. Learners must grant permission for the provider to submit data for the purposes of MOC.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
This course is accredited by the State Bar of Texas for 11.25 CLE credit hours.

The American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) has approved this activity for 2 days (6 points) for recertification.  This activity can be counted as specialty if not already claimed in another section.

A certificate will be provided which can be submitted for TCOLE credit through the attendee's agency.