2026 VitAL Annual Conference

August 20-21, 2026

Join Us for the 2026 VitAL Annual Conference
Alabamians are leading the way in building a better future for behavioral health. The VitAL Annual Conference brings together professionals, advocates, and changemakers from across the state to share ideas, inspire action, and strengthen our collective impact. This year’s event will feature dynamic keynote speakers, practical workshops, and opportunities to connect with others who are passionate about improving mental health, substance use, and trauma-related outcomes. Don’t miss this chance to gain new tools, fresh insights, and renewed energy for your work.

Register below and be part of the movement for a stronger, healthier Alabama.

Conference Agenda Coming Soon!

Bryant Conference Center Tuscaloosa, AL

August 20-21, 2026

Keynote Speakers

August 20: Dr. Lipi Roy is a physician, TEDx speaker, media personality, entrepreneur and host of the YouTube series, Health, Humor and Harmony. In July 2023, she founded SITA MED, a health speaking and training company addressing stress-related conditions such as addiction, mental illness and sleep disorders. Having trained doctors, judges, journalists, executives and beyond, Dr. Roy rose to the challenge of serving on the frontlines of the pandemic as the Medical Director of COVID Isolation and Quarantine Sites for Housing Works in New York City. She also treated patients with opioid use disorder at a harm reduction clinic in the Bronx while working at multiple COVID vaccination sites. She currently treats patients with opioid use disorder at Greenwich House Center for Healing. Dr. Roy is co-authoring a book on women and addiction with Hilary Phelps to be published by Hay House in 2027, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
As an MSNBC & NBC Medical Contributor, Dr. Roy made over 350 live television appearances discussing COVID-19. Dr. Roy’s work spans academia, clinical medicine, homeless health, social and criminal justice, public speaking, media and entertainment. As the former Chief of Addiction Medicine for Rikers Island, Dr. Roy oversaw substance use treatment and recovery services at the nation’s 2nd-largest jail complex. Dr. Roy also serves as clinical assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Previously, Dr. Roy served as a primary care doctor to Boston’s homeless population among who the leading cause of death was drug overdose. She also served as an attending physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and as faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Roy completed her medical and master’s in public health degrees at Tulane University, followed by residency training in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Roy serves as a member of the DukeNY Board and is an active member of the Tulane and University of Toronto New York Chapters.
Dr. Roy’s mission is to educate and empower the public to make healthy decisions. As a former Forbes contributor who has interviewed medical experts such as Dr. Peter Hotez, media icons like Katie Couric and celebrities such as Mary J. Blige and Ice-T, Dr. Roy is one of the world’s trusted experts in health communication. She has appeared on multiple media outlets including CNN, The Tamron Hall Show, NewsNation and CBS New York, and has been featured in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, Cooking Light, Oprah.com and many others

August 21: Brendan McDonough’s journey has been nothing short of
extraordinary. A heroin addict with a daughter on the way, McDonough was facing a bleak future. After recovering from that addiction, he was given a chance to completely change his life and serve a higher purpose as a member of an elite squad of firefighters. Through painstaking work, unshakeable faith, and devotion to his new family, Brendan became an invaluable member of the “Granite Mountain Hotshots.”
After surviving the Yarnell Hill Wildfire and an unfathomable loss of 19 of his fellow firefighters in 2013, Brendan McDonough suffered from bouts of deep
depression and intractable Post-Traumatic Stress. But the family who needed him, his faith in God, and the memory of his brothers’ sacrifice inspired him to keep living through his darkest moments and pushed him to begin helping others. McDonough’s story of struggle and redemption leaves audiences uplifted, encouraging them to become their best selves and to seek out support when struggling.
Brendan McDonough was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their superintendent, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the crew, and seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough. Despite the crew’s skepticism, and thanks in large part to Marsh’s firm but loving encouragement, McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication, going on to successfully battle a number of blazes and
eventually win the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers.
Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonough–“Donut” as he’d been dubbed by his team–served as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes.
Nationwide, it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks. The story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots came to the silver screen with the release of Only the Brave in October 2017. The film, directed by Joseph Kosinski, stars Josh Brolin, Jeff Bridges, Taylor Kitsch, and Jennifer Connelly. McDonough was portrayed by Miles Teller. Today, Brendan McDonough continues to live in Prescott, Arizona with his daughters and fiancé.
Pricing and Attendance Options – Now Open!
- Full Two-Day Conference – $175, includes breakfast/lunch both days
- One Day Conference – $100, includes breakfast/lunch for that day
- Student Fee (full conference only) – $75, includes breakfast/lunch both days
- Group discount – 5 or more registering together, $165 per person (full conference)
In person registration Virtual registration
Sponsorship Opportunities – Now Open!

$350- Standard exhibit booth: includes booth, and one booth attendee (20 available)

$500- Break sponsor: includes 1 booth, and 1 booth attendee, and recognition at conference for sponsoring break (4 available)

$1,000- Breakfast Sponsor: includes 1 booth, 1 booth attendee, and recognition at conference for sponsoring breakfast (2 available)

$2,500- Lunch Sponsor: includes 1 booth, 1 booth attendee, and recognition at conference for sponsoring lunch (2 available)

Exhibit and Sponsorship registration
Call for Abstracts – Closed
Abstract Submission
Conference Tracks

All conference tracks address mental health and substance use across the continuum of care, including prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery. Sessions are designed to reflect integrated, person-centered approaches that recognize the connection between these areas and emphasize collaboration, innovation, and improved outcomes across diverse populations and settings.

School-Based & Youth

Exploring prevention, early intervention, and collaborative approaches to support adolescents and emerging adults. This track highlights innovative strategies for engaging youth in prevention, treatment, recovery support, and student wellness across school and community settings, with an emphasis on early identification and coordinated care.

First Responder Resilience

Addressing the unique challenges experienced by first responders and public safety professionals. This track explores trauma exposure, stress management, peer support, and wellness strategies that promote resilience, early intervention, and access to care and recovery resources.

Ethics, Leadership & Professional Practice

Strengthening ethical decision-making, leadership, and professional practice. This track highlights best practices in clinical care, supervision, organizational leadership, and workforce development to support high-quality, ethical, and sustainable service delivery.

Trauma & Adversity

Exploring the impact of trauma and adverse experiences across the lifespan. This track highlights evidence-based and community-informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and recovery, while addressing barriers such as stigma, access to care, and social and environmental influences on long-term wellness.

Justice-Involved, Treatment & Recovery

Addressing the needs of justice-involved individuals across the continuum of care. This track highlights diversion, treatment, recovery, and reentry strategies, emphasizing cross-sector collaboration among courts, providers, and community partners to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Innovation, Integration & Emerging Practices

A collaborative track highlighting innovative and integrated approaches. Sessions will showcase emerging practices, cross-sector partnerships, prevention strategies, treatment advancements, and recovery supports, reflecting evolving trends and creative solutions to complex challenges.
Hotel Capstone Room Block Booking Information
BLOCK NAME: 2026 Vital Conference Attendees Block

BLOCK DATES: August 19^th, 2026 – August 21^st, 2026

LAST DAY TO BOOK IN BLOCK: July 20^th, 2026

RATE: $139

*Only select dates (August 19th – August 21st) and room types contracted are available at the contracted rate — rooms requested outside of your block dates or different room types are based on availability and at the prevailing rate.

Prefer to book by phone:
- Rooms in the block can be booked by calling 205-752-3200.
  *Please be prepared with your payment method as it will be required to make a reservation over the phone.
2026 Conference Attendee Room Block
Cancellations and Refunds

A cancellation charge of 100% of the registration fee will be assessed on cancellations occurring within seven (7) days of the start of this session. Any changes to the session registration type (example: in-person to virtual, or virtual to in-person) within seven (7) calendar days of program will be assessed a $25.00 administrative fee. Refunds will not be granted after the program has begun. The University of Alabama reserves the right to cancel, postpone or combine class sections, to limit registration or to change instructors. To cancel your registration, contact the Registration Services department at 205-348-3000 or registration_services@ua.edu. A copy of the OTIDE Cancellation Policy can be found online through UA Compliance Bridge.
VitAL Annual Conference Partners
VitAL Annual Conference Sponsors
Continuing Education

ASBSWE: The University of Alabama is an approved provider of continuing education by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (Provider #0290).

ABN: The University of Alabama is an approved provider of continuing education by the Alabama Board of Nursing (Provider #ABNPO222).

NBCC: The University of Alabama has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No. 7285. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The University of Alabama is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

NCHEC: This training is sponsored by VitAL, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. Provider ID# 1154505.

Law Enforcement & Pardons and Parole: If approved by your agency head, this training will provide APOST (Alabama Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission) credits.

CRSS: Certified Recovery Support Specialists training hours pending approval.

Educators: PowerSchool credits pending approval.