UCR SOM Promoting Access to Treatment and Health Equity (PATH) for Substance Use Care - The University of California, Riverside School of Medicine (UCR SOM) is implementing the Promoting Access to Treatment and Health Equity (PATH) for Substance Use Care curriculum to address the needs of a healthcare shortage area, Inland Southern California (ISC) region. This innovative curriculum focuses on training 720 individuals, including medical students, trainees, and faculty, early and consistently in substance use disorder (SUD) care competencies over 3 years, integrating SUD education into the general medical school curriculum. The curriculum, is aligned with the UCR SOM Health Equity, Social Justice, & Anti-Racism (HESJAR) Thread, and aims to develop students' abilities to address biases, and social determinant impact on health outcomes, and advocate for high-quality patient care for all communities. The PATH curriculum includes goals to build medical student and faculty competencies in treating SUD as a disease like any other chronic condition, increase access to evidence-based SUD screening and services, and leverage regional healthcare partnerships to educate and retain a diverse physician workforce. In addition, the Longitudinal Ambulatory Care Experience (LACE) program, at UCR SOM, provides students with hands-on clinical experiences and mentor-mentee relationships with primary care providers in the region, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive care. By partnering with practice groups, community clinics, and healthcare organizations in the ISC, such as Kaiser Permanente, Riverside University Health Services, and others, UCR SOM is well-positioned to expand training in behavioral science and SUD care. Measurable curriculum objectives using the Kirkpatrick model for evaluation, include assessing students' knowledge of the neurobiological basis, social, humanistic and behavioral factors of recovery, and medication assisted treatment of SUD, to ensure the effectiveness of the educational initiatives for medical students in all cohorts. This proposal outlines a holistic and data-driven approach to addressing SUD and healthcare disparities in the ISC region, emphasizing the importance of early and progressive education, hands-on clinical experiences, and strategic partnerships to improve access to quality care for diverse populations.
