Addiction Medicine Fellowship - Project Title: Swedish Health Services Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program Applicant Organization: Swedish Health Services Address: 747 Broadway Seattle WA, 98122-4307 Project Director: Jim Walsh, MD Contact Phone Numbers: ?(206) 354-8202??? Email Address: jim.walsh@swedish.org Website: www.swedish.org Funding Priority: Priority 3: Rural, Tribal or Underserved Communities Funds requested: $2,376,545 Swedish Health Services proposes an Addiction Medicine Fellowship program to address critical shortages of board-certified addiction medicine specialists in medically underserved, community-based settings, including rural areas. The program is designed to meet the urgent need for comprehensive SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services. In King County, WA, where Swedish operates, fatal overdoses rose by 41% between 2022 and 2023, marking the highest increase in the United States. Vulnerable populations—particularly individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and racial health disparities—are disproportionately impacted by this crisis, with nearly 25% of overdose victims in King County being unsheltered. Swedish’s AMF program will train four fellows annually (two funded by grant year 1-4, three funded by grant in year 5) to provide culturally competent, integrated care to high-risk populations, including pregnant and parenting individuals. Training will focus on a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates primary care, mental health, and SUD services. Fellows will gain hands-on experience through structured rotations at Swedish Addiction Recovery Services (ARS)—which offers inpatient, outpatient, and consultation services—and at diverse clinical sites such as FQHCs, rural clinics, and trauma hospitals. Clinical training will be supported by didactic instruction on evidence-based practices like medication-assisted treatment, motivational interviewing, and interprofessional collaboration. Swedish will partner with organizations such as the FIRST Legal Clinic and New Traditions to ensure fellows understand the role of social determinants of health in SUD care. These partnerships expose fellows to holistic patient support systems, including legal advocacy, gender-responsive recovery programs, and childcare services. This approach enables fellows to develop critical skills in assisting patients with social and legal system navigation that directly affects their treatment and recovery outcomes. The program also seeks to reduce provider stigma around SUD by educating fellows, residents, and the communities served. Swedish will offer addiction medicine rotations to medical residents from family medicine, internal medicine, and OB/GYN programs to raise awareness of addiction medicine as a specialty. These efforts will be complemented by peer-led initiatives and community education programs designed to foster understanding and reduce stigma associated with SUD and its treatment. Throughout the five-year project period, Swedish will track fellows’ progress and employment outcomes, ensuring that graduates transition into community-based settings to serve high-need populations. Regular performance evaluations, quarterly data collection, and reviews by Swedish’s Clinical Competency Committee will ensure ongoing program improvement and compliance with HRSA requirements. By strengthening the addiction medicine workforce, enhancing access to integrated care, and improving patient outcomes, Swedish aims to alleviate the critical gap in SUD services for underserved communities across Washington State.
