President: Dr. Colleen Ryan

Colleen Ryan, MD, is board certified in general psychiatry and addiction medicine. She grew up in Kentucky and attended Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., where she majored in pre-medicine. She then attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine, followed by a residency in psychiatry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Ryan has worked in many psychiatric settings including state hospitals, community mental health centers, private practice, inpatient units, and Veterans Hospitals. She is a strong advocate for patients, and her mission is to improve access to mental health and addiction care. She has worked in underserved areas since her retirement from the University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry.

Secretary: Dr. Anna Maria South

Dr. South went to medical school at Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Kentucky and joined the Division of Hospital Medicine at the University of Kentucky in 2019. She is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine. She currently works as a hospitalist on both teaching and direct care teams, as well as a consultant on the addiction consult and education service at UK. Her clinical interests include health equity and evidence-based care for patients with substance use disorders. She is passionate about teaching fellow clinicians, residents and medical students about medications for opioid use disorder. 

Treasurer: Dr. Vincent Blanch

Dr. Blanch is an adult and child psychiatrist who has worked in a variety of clinical settings since he completed his residency training in 2008. He has been with the US Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) over the last six years & just started as their new Chief of Addiction Medicine for all BOP facilities in the US. He has been a provider of Naltrexone/Vivitrol & Buprenorphine for the last twelve years & provided treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in a variety of different clinical settings during that time including – multiple outpatient clinical settings & two different federal facilities including the Lexington Veteran Affairs Medical Center & the Federal Medical Center Lexington (FMC LEX). His collateral duties in the BOP have included – acting as Lead for the physicians in the Medication Assisted Treatment Clinical Consultants group since December 2019 to September 2023 & as Firearms Instructor for FMC LEX since June 2021 to date. He also has two other degrees outside of medicine, including a master’s Degree in science (in the area of microbiology) and a doctoral degree in philosophy (in the area of immunology).

President Elect: Dr. Oliver Benes

Dr. Oliver Benes is an experienced physician specializing in family medicine, addiction medicine, and obstetrics. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed his residency at Saint Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program in Edgewood, KY. Dr. Benes has taught medical students and residents and is involved in professional organizations like KAFP, AAFP, ASAM, KYSAM, and KMA. He practices at Saint Elizabeth Physicians Journey Recovery, bringing expertise in family medicine, addiction medicine, outpatient obstetrics, and office-based procedures.