​What if access to medications for opioid use disorder didn’t have to start in a clinic?

In this episode of Changing Minds, host Anna Morgan-Barsamian is joined by Finn Black and Rebecca Martinez from the Center for Innovative Academic Detailing on Opioids and Stimulants (CIAO). They discuss how academic detailing supported the rapid implementation of a telehealth and street-based initiative designed to expand access to buprenorphine for people who use opioids. The conversation highlights patient-centered program design, scalable clinician support, and key lessons for cities responding to urgent public health challenges.

A good detailer has their finger on the pulse of what a clinician needs. This episode's guest speaker, Christine Fishman, RPH, MPH, Academic Detailing Lead, MetroHealth, shares her insights about the ways in which knowledge, rapport, and service all help frontline clinicians to provide the best care for their patients who have substance use disorder. Looking at the necessity for strong relationship-building within a hospital system, Chris discusses the critical importance of humbly admitting when you don't know answer; showing up consistently for clinicians who are overwhelmed with the unique needs of patients struggling with SUD; and igniting practice transformation in the field of addiction medicine.

Learn more about Christine's recent work at NaRCAD's June 2025 Summit Session: "Integrating Navigators into AD in the ER: The SUN Program at MetroHealth to Better Support Patients with Substance Use Disorder" Slide Deck PDF | Video Recording.

When our community comes together, we get back to the essence of why we do the work we do: building trust with clinicians and their patients.

Join us as we chat about the magic of our annual international conference, with this year's 13th annual just around the corner. You'll hear from our director and founder, Mike Fischer, about the importance of this annual event, a sneak peek of what's on the menu, and what the bottom line of good detailing and relationship-building is all about: trust. Stay tuned 'til the end for an opportunity to get free registration at this year's event. Click here for the audio transcription.

Being a successful detailer is about so much more than conveying good evidence, or reaching the most clinicians. Come and chat with Vishal Kinkhabwala, MD, MPH, a Training Consultant and Expert Facilitator at NaRCAD, as he drops wisdom nuggets about the importance of camaraderie, deep listening, being of service, building rapport, and approaching clinicians as "just a new friend I haven't met yet." Vishal shares his experiences as a detailer in the area of infectious disease prevention, his tips for building relationships, and the importance of true presence, not "acting like you're listening."

A great episode to tune into for new and veteran detailers alike, and anyone who wants to learn more about the impact of 1:1 clinical outreach education visits in clinicians' own frontline environments.

Making sure older adults receive a holistic, evidence-based approach to care: learning from Alosa Health.

On our August 2025 episode, we chat with Alosa Health's COO, Paul Fanikos, RPh, MPA/HA, about all things detailing, with a focus on Alosa's recent campaign to support older adults, their providers, and their caregivers in managing the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer's with care, compassion, and connection to the best evidence, resources, and community supports.

For patients who don't feel safe inside the clinic, how can we bring the best of public health outreach to them?

Join us for the tea on how to interweave public health initiatives into artistic spaces where community members feel safe, seen, and understood. Zack Jenio, Program Manager of Mile High Behavioral Health in Denver, Colorado, who also hails as Drag Queen Dr. Zacharina Jenny-hoe, discusses the impact of meeting patient needs by bringing harm reduction, including HIV prevention tools and naloxone, to performance spaces. We also discuss challenges queer patients face in primary care clinics where trust can be unintentionally eroded by stigma; the allure of drag as a celebration of femininity and glamour; and the ways that clinicians can start thinking creatively about patient needs, identity, and access to care--OUTSIDE of the traditional healthcare space.

We can't talk about HIV without talking about sex and drugs. In this episode, we connect with Rocko Cook, whose over 30 years in the field of HIV prevention, care, and community-building give us insights into the best ways to the best ways to communicate with patients and clinicians alike. Rocko shares their story of learning about their own HIV+ status; unique projects that meet people "where they're at", including HIV testing in bathhouses; and the importance of partnering with clinicians as a consultant, partner, and advocate of patients.

“I truly believe that if we don't have an anchor that keeps us tied and moored to who we are as people, and we don't have that passion and motivation to do something about it, then we're probably not going to be as effective as we could be.” –Rocko Cook, DISH-AZ Academic Detailer

Learn more about DISH-AZ and the work they do.

How do we stay the course and stay rooted in facts amidst a major disruption impacting the healthcare landscape?

"Godfather" and originator of academic detailing Jerry Avorn joins the show to share his reflections on the current state of healthcare; the history of treatment and medications prior to rigorous study; his new book, Rethinking Medications; the critical importance of treating evidence, facts, and science as our collective North Star; and where we can look to a future where there is hope of correcting our course back towards the kind of evidence-based clinical care and health policy that we need, now more than ever!

Visit rethinkmeds.info to connect with other Rethinking Medications readers, listeners, and thinkers, and check out the 2025 academic detailing systematic review mentioned in this episode, along with one from 2007.

(Click here for the audio transcription.)

How can public health professionals stay resilient and connected​when the landscape is shifting beneath their feet?

In this episode, Anna Morgan-Barsamian passes the mic to Bevin Amira, NaRCAD’s Deputy Director and interim host, for a conversation on navigating devastating public health funding cuts and the rising spread of misinformation. Together, they explore how detailers can stay grounded in evidence, sustain meaningful relationships with clinicians, and lean into the power of community during challenging times. Stay tuned until the end for a special discount to NaRCAD’s upcoming AD Virtual Summit.

Additional Resource:

AD Literature Archives: https://www.narcad.org/adlit.html

How can harm reduction strategies not only save lives but also challenge stigma and transform communities?

In this episode, Maggie Kaufmann, Director of Harm Reduction Programs at the University of Illinois Chicago dives deep into harm reduction strategies, exploring how these evidence-based approaches save lives, combat stigma, and integrate with academic detailing projects. Maggie shares insights on transformative and creative harm reduction initiatives, including drug checking, mobile medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services, overdose prevention sites, and community-based education in local theaters. Tune in for a compelling conversation on the evolving landscape of harm reduction and its impact on public health.

If you have any questions about integrating harm reduction into academic detailing projects, please contact Maggie at [email protected]​.