Faculty from the Yale Institute for Global Health Global Addictions Network, in partnership with faculty from The University of Jordan School of Pharmacy, received a $158,466, two-year grant, from the US Department of State via the American Embassy in Amman Public Affairs Office to create a joint addiction training program between Yale Schools of Medicine and Public Health (YSM, YSPH) and the School of Pharmacy at The University of Jordan (UJ).
The program will lead training and mentoring activities to improve knowledge, attitudes, and skills in Addiction Medicine, with a special focus on cultural competency. “Through this program, there should be an easier exchange of educational experiences between faculty from UJ and YSM/YSPH for joint training and co-mentorship of students in addiction medicine and harm reduction,” said Jeanette Tetrault, principal investigator, and professor of medicine at YSM. “Building these relationships through collaboration and mutual understanding will create novel opportunities for students and faculty to engage in collaborative educational and research projects.”
International statistics show that only 1 in 10 people with substance use disorder receive treatment, primarily due to social and cultural stigma, lack of addiction-specific training for healthcare providers, and limited resources. Tetrault says this program will provide for identification and treatment of substance use disorder while paying specific attention to cultural competency.
Tetrault adds that her hope is for others to explore similar mechanisms for collaborative international work.
Other team members on the program include Drs. Kaveh Khoshnood (Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Public Health), Ryan McNeil (Program in Addiction Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Yale Schools of Medicine and Public Health), Srinivas Muvvala (Program in Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine), as well as Rebecca Minahan-Rowley, LMSW (Program in Addiction Medicine). Jordanian collaborators include Drs. Mayyada Wazaify (School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan), and Rana Abu-Dahab (Dean, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan) as well as Yara Al-Khateeb, BSc (School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan).