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Seton Hall University’s College of Nursing, School of Health and Medical Sciences and the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University have been awarded an interprofessional training grant designed to expand patient access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use.Seton Hall University’s College of Nursing, School of Health and Medical Sciences and the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University have been awarded an interprofessional training grant designed to expand patient access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use.

Seton Hall said the proposal, called the Seton Hall University and Hackensack Meridian Health Interprofessional Medication-Assisted Treatment Training Program, was approved with a $404,905 commitment over three years from the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The training initiative, led by Project Directors Kathleen Neville from the College of Nursing, Laura Goshko from the School of Health and Medical Sciences, and Stanley Terlecky from the School of Medicine, will guarantee that all adult-gerontology nurse-practitioners, physician assistants and physician students educated at the three schools will receive interprofessional didactic instruction and clinical supervision related to opioid use disorder and medication-assisted treatment plans, while also being certified with a Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 waiver.

“One of the strengths of this grant is the interprofessional focus,” said Marie Foley, dean of the College of Nursing, in a prepared statement. “Addiction is a very difficult condition to treat and requires a team approach for management. Educating our students using a collaborative approach will prepare them to function on interprofessional health care teams after graduation.”

Added Bonita Stanton, dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall, in a statement: “As we prepare our students for professional life within the world of health care, we must prepare them to fight addiction. The costs of substance abuse in terms of human life and well-being and lost potential and productivity are staggering. This program will prepare our students — as future doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants — to effect meaningful change within families and our communities and by treating individuals that suffer from this disease.”