Rachel Shuster is a registered nurse in long-term recovery from Opioid Use Disorder whose personal journey deeply influences her professional and personal dedication to the field. She holds certifications as a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) and a Certified Allied Addiction Practitioner (CAAP).  Rachel earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Waynesburg University and currently works as an Addiction Specialist at Highmark. Her professional expertise spans critical care, nursing education, office-based addiction treatment, residential treatment, and managed care. Rachel is the founder and codirector of the Pennsylvania Advocates for Monitoring Program Advancement (PAAMPA), and organization whose mission is to advocate for compassionate, culturally relevant, evidence-based care management for all licensees enrolled in Pennsylvania’s monitoring programs. She is actively involved on several boards, including the Pittsburgh Recovery Walk and UNITY Recovery, and is the 2025-2027 President Elect of the USA Chapter of the International Nursing Society on Addictions. Additionally, she contributes her skills and knowledge as a member of the Butler County Opioid Overdose Coalition as well as the Community Advisory Board for the Appalachian Node of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network. Rachel is driven by a deep commitment to addressing stigma, promoting harm reduction, and advancing drug policy. Her interests also include pharmacotherapy, toxicology, and the intersection of health professionals and substance use. Her blend of personal experience and professional expertise makes her a powerful advocate in the field of addictions.