After retiring from competitive running, Beardsley had a series of near-fatal accidents and received prescription painkillers for his injuries. He became addicted to the narcotics and battled for his own survival – forging prescriptions for pain pills at the height of his addiction.

Today, Beardsley has been in recovery for two decades and shares his journey as an inspirational speaker. He’s the author of Staying the Course, A Runners Toughest Race and the subject of the bestseller, Duel in the Sun: The Story of Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America’s Greatest Marathon. Despite chronic pain and multiple operations on his knees, back and neck, Beardsley still runs about 50 miles each week.

Joe Putignano is also an acrobat and contortionist who has performed in over 1000 shows as the original Crystal Man in Cirque du Soleil’s “Totem.”  He has performed on Broadway in the “Times They Are A Changin” choreographed and directed by the legendary Twyla Tharp. Joe has also performed in many shows at the Metropolitan Opera House, appeared on several TV shows and has modeled in many magazines.

Dr. Clark is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. She is currently a member of the Integrated Care Work Group of the American Psychiatric Association; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Expert Committee on Opioid Treatment Program Guidelines; the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit Advisory Board; and the faculty of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.