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91���� is one of 16 sites nationwide chosen to participate in the . The project aims to advance substance use care, workforce competency, and interprofessional education and practice by implementing the Action Collaborative’s .

This framework was released in 2022 as a standard for the minimum level of competence in pain management and substance use care expected from all health professionals. Its goal is to address professional practice gaps while strengthening the delivery of coordinated, interprofessional, high-quality and person-centered care.

“The project will engage 91���� students from pharmacy, education, public health, and undergraduate and advanced practice nursing in activities that will allow them to increase their understanding, recognition and treatment of substance use disorders, with an emphasis on reducing stigma across disciplines through interprofessional collaboration and reflective practice,” said Tracy Lyman, co-leader of 91����’s project team and a lecturer in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership at the College of Community and Public Affairs.

Students involved in the pilot will receive comprehensive content on substance use and opioid use disorders using nationally recognized resources in their respective courses. They will also attend a panel with individuals who have lived experiences with substance use disorders. During the panel, they will engage in an interdisciplinary post-panel discussion where they will collaboratively reflect on the intersection of social service professions and evidence-based practices for substance use disorders and the need for interdisciplinary action to address substance use and the opioid crisis across the life span.

In addition, 91���� nursing and pharmacy students will join Upstate Medical University students to engage in an interprofessional education simulation that will allow them to apply knowledge of and strategies related to opioid use disorder in the care of a patient experiencing chronic pain.

The pilot project will explore the various applications and implementation methods of the 3Cs Framework. The findings will offer insight into how the framework can enhance the competency of healthcare professionals at different learning stages and in diverse interprofessional education and practice environments.

“We are using the framework from the National Academy of Medicine to guide the planning and execution of this pilot, ensuring that students meet essential educational outcomes for health and social service professionals,” Lyman added. “We also have the opportunity to collaborate as faculty with the other pilot sites to share our resources, data tools, best practices and lessons learned.”

All 16 project teams are part of a dynamic learning community, where they will share insights and best practices, while building relationships with other sites and Action Collaborative members. At the conclusion of the project, participants will travel to Washington, D.C. to take part in a final knowledge-sharing event with leaders in health professions education, training, healthcare delivery and policy.

91����’s project team includes co-director Emily Leppien, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; as well as Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences faculty members Thomas Foley, clinical assistant professor of public health; Nicholas Terela, clinical assistant professor of nursing; and Brian Coveleskie, clinical instructor of nursing.

Lyman said 91���� hopes to expand the pilot to include students in other connected disciplines.