Research-Driven & Expert Taught
OPI's staff is dedicated to providing psychedelics with the rigorous education they deserve. Our research-informed curriculum is presented by leaders in the field.
Meet your instructors
Neuroscience
The science that
underlies the psychedelic experience
Instructor: Dr. Matthew X. Lowe
Facilitation
The psychology
of preparation,
administration
& integration
Instructor: Dr. Joseph La Torre
Medicine
Psychedelics and
healthcare
Instructor: Dr. Zach Halpern
Business Leadership
An integral
component of each
module
Learn More
A Science-
Centric Curriculum
The field of psychedelics is a tapestry interwoven with threads of psychology, mysticism, indigenous wisdom, and science.
OPI's mission is to provide an unparalleled education in the latter, honoring all dimensions of facilitation while remaining objective & research-informed.
Explore Curriculum Content
Staff Research
OPI Staff
This Month's
Research Spotlight
Read the Article
About Dr. Joe La Torre
Lead Educators
Lead Educators: Zach Halpern (M.D.) | Joe La Torre (Ph.D., Psychology) | Matthew X. Lowe (Ph.D., Neuroscience)
Our instructors share, first and foremost, a passionate dedication to the advancement of psychedelic medicine. Rigorous academic training, ongoing involvement with psychedelic research, clinical expertise, and graduate-level teaching experience make them the perfect liaisons for delivering top-tier psychedelic education.
Zach Halpern, M.D.
Program Director | Lead Medical Educator
Curiosity, passion for science, and a drive for meaningful change have guided Zach’s journey into psychedelic science.
After studying human physiology at UCLA and earning his M.D., Zach’s passion for understanding the mind deepened. Disillusioned by conventional psychiatry, he discovered psilocybin’s potential for transformative healing during medical school. This realization led to completing Zachary Leary's Psychedelic Studies Intensive (PSI), grassroots policy work, and ultimately, the founding of OPI to pioneer psychedelic education.
Matthew X. Lowe, Ph.D.
Scientific Advisor | Lead Science Educator
After receiving his doctorate in psychology and cognitive neuroscience from University of Toronto, Dr. Lowe went on to conduct research at Harvard, Stanford, and MIT universities.
At OPI, Dr. Lowe oversees the development of scientific curriculum materials. He draws from his own research and the research of his colleagues to keep OPI's curriculum up-to-date with the rapidly growing body of scientific psychedelic knowledge. Outside of his roles at OPI, Dr. Lowe leads research for two organizations: Realm of Caring and his own nonprofit Unlimited Sciences. Through the latter, a psychedelics research non-profit, Dr. Lowe and his team use data-driven methods to inform public perception, education, policy, and practices for psychedelics use.
Joe La Torre, Ph.D.
Clinical Advisor | Lead Clinical Educator
Dr. La Torre is the Lead Research Psychologist in the Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry (NTAP) at the University of Washington School of Medicine where his research focuses on ibogaine-assisted therapy, phenomenological differences and similarities of synthetic psilocybin vs. organic psilocybin, Psilocybe species-specific subjective effects, exploring psychedelic therapy for people with psychotic conditions,
and other understudied indications.
Also holding a masters in Buddhist Studies from Harvard University, Dr. La Torre draws from a wide range of disciplines in his teaching at OPI, where he oversees the development of clinical curriculum materials including psychedelic preparation, administration and integration.
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Where you'll stay
The Jennings Hotel
Part creative sanctuary, part cozy retreat, the Jennings Hotel offers the ideal atmosphere for immersive learning. Nestled in the heart of downtown Joseph, it puts you within easy walking distance of all the essentials for your week-long stay.