The American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM) is a partner of the Opioid Response Network, a coalition of 40 national organizations. The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) is collaborating with the AOAAM to connect OUD-focused clinical sites with PA education programs. The goal is that collaboration will bolster the behavioral health workforce with qualified, well-trained, early-career practitioners.

PA students joining clinical sites for their rotations will be ready to apply their broad medical and behavioral health training to provide team-based psychiatric care, MAT, and primary care. With expanded OUD-treatment training and experience, these graduates will improve access to care for behavioral health practices and increase the availability of providers, helping to address health disparities related to OUD.

By participating in the program, behavioral health clinical sites will be connected with PA programs seeking to set up full-time, supervised, 4- to 8-week rotations for their students. Any honorariums or other compensation will need to be negotiated with the participating PA programs.

PAEA is specifically seeking training sites in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Kentucky, California, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. They are also immediately seeking a clinical placement specialist at Wichita State University in Kansas. They have lost two clinical sites placing graduation for several students in jeopardy. Placement for the following dates

• March 22-April 22
• May 17-June 17
• June 21-July 28