he/him/his –  Chris Giang graduated from the University of Michigan School of Public Health with a major in Public Health Sciences. He actively collaborates with the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, as well as the Child Health and Development Lab at the School of Public Health and the Trauma and Grief Center at the Hackett Center for Mental Health. He also has volunteer experience as a bereavement group facilitator at Ele’s Place in Michigan and Kate’s Club in Georgia. He is interested in how childhood trauma and bereavement shape mental health outcomes, with a focus on improving those outcomes in the context of environmental stressors and public health systems.

“Working through my own grief meant looking beyond just myself and using my own experiences of loss to support those around me. Today, I strive to show the same compassion and empathy others have shown me, with the hope of helping grieving children in meaningful and tangible ways.”

she/her/hers – Holly Gurnik is a student at Boston University School of Public Health pursuing her Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Law, and Mental Health and Substance Use. She is interested in research related to substance use prevention and HIV, as well as policy work around mental health and how it intersects with substance use. Her goal is to utilize research to address substance use prevention and treatment policy, with a focus on how substance use intersects with varying social identities and health outcomes. In her spare time, Holly enjoys reading and practicing her very bad cooking skills.

he/him – Dr. Marvin Schilt-Solberg is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. He is a nurse and public health researcher who specializes in substance use epidemiology among sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations. His research focuses on how adverse experiences such as minority stress, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) influence health behaviors and substance use in marginalized communities. He is particularly interested in how individuals cope with adversity, their motivations for substance use, and their perceptions of health risk.

Dr. Schilt-Solberg also examines the impact of losing a loved one to overdose. His work explores how these losses affect both mental health and substance use outcomes, and how grief, trauma, and context shape long-term health.

A central goal of his research is to design and implement mobile health (mHealth) interventions that foster resilience, improve mental health, and reduce substance use. These interventions are tailored to meet the needs of both SGM individuals and those who have experienced overdose loss. Grounded in equity and community relevance, his work aims to reduce health disparities and promote lasting well-being in populations that have been historically overlooked by traditional public health approaches.

I pursue this work to ensure that communities affected by stigma, trauma, and loss, especially those grieving an overdose, have access to care that affirms their experience and supports long-term healing.

he/him/his – Sam is a student at the University of Michigan School of Public Health pursuing his Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology. His research interests include injury prevention and social epidemiology, with a particular focus on understanding the impact of adverse childhood experiences, stigma, and identifying effective intervention strategies. Sam has volunteered for several years with Ele’s Place where he serves as a bereavement support group facilitator for early elementary-aged children. This work inspired him to join the HopeHQ team where he can further translate his experience and education into meaningful support for bereaved children and families. Outside of this work, Sam spends much of his time reading, writing, and pursuing the perfect cup of coffee.

Supporting these kiddos and their families has fundamentally changed who I am for the better. I am honored to be part of a team that centers their needs with warmth, compassion, and empowerment. Grief is profoundly transformative, but as a community we can ensure it is not experienced alone.

she/her/hers – Anna Wang is currently a senior studying nursing with a minor in global health at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she has witnessed firsthand the impact of substance misuse on her community. This experience ignited her passion for driving change from the ground up. Last summer, she had the opportunity to join the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health, where she became involved in this transformative work. She aspires to continue serving and making meaningful contributions to individuals and families.

he/him/his – Joshua Truchan graduated from the University of Michigan in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is a licensed RN in the state of Michigan. He was born and raised in Dearborn Heights, Michigan and currently lives in Ypsilanti. He is interested in providing support and resources for children, families, and other individuals affected by substance use, especially those experiencing the death of a parent/caregiver due to a drug overdose. His own lived experience has instilled a passion for reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorder and overdose. As a healthcare professional, he hopes to promote improved holistic health outcomes in this population through his future clinical practice, research opportunities, and community engagement.

“As a Metro Detroit native, I have witnessed the devastation caused by drug overdose deaths. I am proud to work with a team focused on mitigating the effects of grief, especially for those experiencing parental drug overdose bereavement.”