Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Program Description
Our program aims to develop the next generation of a well-trained multidisciplinary addiction workforce within the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) and its nationally recognized Health Systems Research Center of Innovation (HSR COIN) --the Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR). VAAAHS and CCMR are home to leading addiction researchers and clinicians seeking to improve access to SUD care, integrate SUD care into specialty medicine clinics, and reduce care disparities. We have engaged interdisciplinary faculty leaders who contribute to our clinical training programs, including physicians, psychologists, nurses, and pharmacists. Our unique location on the University of Michigan (U-M) campus, within a building led by the Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, allows for seamless collaborations across disciplines, both within VAAAHS and with our academic affiliate, U-M. This strategic partnership enhances our capacity for innovative research and comprehensive clinical training in addiction treatment.
Our fellowship is a natural extension of the innovative addiction research and quality improvement (QI) work happening at VAAAHS, driven by two areas of focus:
- SUD care should be accessible outside of SUD clinics to improve access and facilitate Veteran-centeredness.
- Expertise in addiction health services research methods, including quantitative large data analysis, qualitative research, clinical trial efficacy/effectiveness, hybrid-implementation trials, and partnered QI projects.
Research and Clinical Opportunities in Addiction
Our fellowship offers research strengths such as exposure to advanced quantitative methods (e.g., big data analysis), qualitative research focused on understanding barriers/facilitators to SUD care, clinical trial efficacy/effectiveness, hybrid-implementation trials, and partnered QI projects. We will attempt to match fellows with clinical activities related to their interests and skills, which may include delivering SUD care across various settings, including primary care, liver clinic, SUD clinic, and the emergency department (ED).
Focal Areas
- Identifying/understanding disparities in SUD care.
- Comparing effectiveness of SUD-related treatment pathways across treatment settings.
- Conducting implementation research to improve access and quality of evidence-based SUD treatment.
- Evaluating new delivery modalities to understand how SUD care can improve reach.
- Enhancing harm reduction practices.
- Examining the relationship between SUD and suicide risk.
- Evaluating best practices for delivering SUD care in non-SUD treatment settings and for co-morbid health conditions.
Potential Mentors
- Pooja Lagisetty, MD, MSc: Health services researcher and primary care physician, addiction medicine boarded, focused on SUD and chronic pain.
- Sameer Saini, MD, MS: Gastroenterologist focused on improving access to specialty care services.
- Amy Bohnert, PhD, MHS: Health services researcher specializing in prescription drug overdose, SUDs, and chronic pain.
- Andrea Nevedal, PhD: Qualitative methodologist and implementation scientist.
- Keith Kocher, MD, MPH: Emergency medicine physician focused on high-value emergency and acute care for SUDs.
- Ponni Perumalswami, MD: Gastroenterologist and transplant hepatologist focused on SUD-related treatment disparities.
- Courtney Bagge, PhD: Clinical psychologist focused on suicidal behavior and its relation to substance use.
- Myra Kim, PhD: Biostatistician specializing in multi-site clinical trial designs and pharmaco-epidemiology.
- Paul Pfeiffer, MD, MS: Psychiatrist focused on implementation science and depression care improvement.
- Maria Silveira, MD, MA, MPA: Internal medicine physician with a focus on safe opioid use in palliative care and clinical trials.
- Lona Mody, MD, MSc: Geriatrician focused on infectious diseases epidemiology and reducing infections among at-risk populations.
- Rebecca Sripada, PhD: Clinical psychologist specializing in PTSD and adaptive trial methods.
- Mark Ilgen, PhD: Psychologist focusing on the treatment of alcohol/drug use and the association between substance use and suicide risk.
- Peter Grau, PhD: Clinical psychologist focusing on PTSD, comorbidities, and flexible methods of delivering evidence-based mental health treatments.
- Kara Zivin, PhD, MS, MA, MFA: Health services and policy researcher specializing in mental health disorders and health outcomes.
- Michael Smith, PharmD, FCCP, FAAHPM, BCPS: Clinical pharmacist specializing in complex pain management and SUD research.
- Amanda Blok, PhD, MSN, PHCNS-BC: Health services researcher focusing on intervention designs and healthcare workforce engagement.
Application Process
Disciplines Accepted: Psychologists, social workers, primary care physicians, hepatologists, nurses, clinical pharmacists, ED physicians, public health/health services trainees.
Requirements:
- Diversity of past experiences.
- Clear research objectives/ideas.
- Match with program mentors.
- Ability to meet program objectives, including clinical practice objectives.
- Strong written/oral communication skills, leadership potential, and commitment to advancing Veteran care.
Dr. Pooja Lagisetty
Dr. Lagisetty is a health services researcher and practicing primary care physician who is addiction medicine boarded and has been part of VAAAHS for the past 10 years. Her research focuses on access to care and developing treatment models for patients with pain and addiction across general medical settings. She has a VA-funded Merit award focusing on comparing the effectiveness of different medication treatment trajectories for individuals with prescription opioid misuse. She is also funded by NIH and CDC, and mentors junior investigators including a VA CDA awardee.
The VA Ann Arbor
The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) is a complex tertiary referral facility and teaching hospital providing a full range of services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. In 2023, VAAAHS served 74,869 Veterans throughout Michigan and northeast Ohio, which included 694,256 outpatient visits, 121,815 telehealth visits, and 4,706 hospital admissions. The main hospital campus located in Ann Arbor operates 109 acute care beds and 40 Community Living Center beds, offering comprehensive medical, surgical, and psychiatric care.
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor's proximity to the University of Michigan allows for seamless collaboration between the VA and the university, enhancing opportunities for research, clinical training, and professional growth. The University of Michigan is renowned for its rich academic tradition and robust alumni network, which provides unparalleled opportunities for mentorship, networking, and professional growth. Fellows benefit from this vibrant academic environment by having the opportunity to sit in on U-M classes, attend seminars, and engage in collaborative research projects.
About Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, often fondly referred to as "Tree Town" for its extensive forestation and commitment to green spaces, is a vibrant city rich in cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities. Home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor offers a diverse environment for research and training.