Project Grant K24DA060786

HIV, EQUITY, AND ADDICTION TRAINING (HEAT) PROGRAM - THIS IS A CAREER MENTORING AWARD TO SUPPORT DR. EATON WITH DEDICATED TIME TO SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE, STRUCTURED APPROACH TO MENTORING FOR HERSELF, HER TRAINEES, AND EARLY CAREER FACULTY MENTEES. ELLEN EATON, MD, MSPH, IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE TRAINED CLINICIAN-SCIENTIST WITH EXPERTISE DEVELOPING AND TESTING INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE INFECTIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD), WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HIV IN PERSONS WHO USE DRUGS. HER MENTORING PORTFOLIO FOCUSES ON WOMEN AND UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE (URIM). MENTEES WILL WORK ALONGSIDE DR. EATON ON NEWLY PROPOSED RESEARCH IN THE K24 AND ONGOING NIH-FUNDED STUDIES IN HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN ALABAMA. DR. EATON PROPOSES MENTORING AIMS TO (1) DEVELOP DEEP SOUTH PHYSICIAN SCIENTISTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WHO CONDUCT PATIENT-ORIENTED RESEARCH AT THE NEXUS OF SUD AND HIV AND (2) ESTABLISH A HIV, EQUITY AND ADDICTION TRAINING (HEAT) PROGRAM THAT LEVERAGES THE COMPLEMENTARY EXPERTISE OF THE UAB CENTER FOR ADDICTION AND PAIN PREVENTION INTERVENTION AND UAB CENTER FOR AIDS RESEARCH. THIS PROPOSAL WILL ACCELERATE PROGRESS TOWARDS ENDING HIV BY BUILDING SUD RESEARCH CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE. DR. EATON PROPOSES NOVEL RESEARCH AIMS USING NEW SKILLS OBTAINED THROUGH THIS CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD. SHE HAS ASSEMBLED A TEAM OF ADVISORS WHO BRING COMPLEMENTARY EXPERTISE IN IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, TELEMEDICINE, HEALTH EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE RESEARCH WILL BE INFORMED BY THE HEALTH EQUITY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK TO USE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES TO IDENTIFY EQUITABLE USE OF TELEMEDICINE TO EXTEND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV. SHE PROPOSES A RAPID ANALYSIS APPROACH TO ANALYZE IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS CONDUCTED WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND END-USERS (PEOPLE WITH HIV) ACROSS ALABAMA. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES WILL EXPLORE FEASIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF A TELEMEDICINE INTERVENTION WITH THE GOAL TO INFORM A FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION TRIAL. THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF CLINICIAN RESEARCHERS WHO STUDY THE INTERSECTION OF HIV AND ADDICTION, AND THIS SHORTAGE IS ESPECIALLY PRONOUNCED IN RURAL AND POOR STATES LIKE AL WHERE SUBSTANCE USE HAS OUTPACED RESEARCH ON EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY. THIS AWARD WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF SKILLED AND DIVERSE RESEARCHERS, WHILE ADVANCING THE SCIENCE OF HEALTHCARE DELIVERY FOR PERSONS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN ALABAMA.