The program accommodates a total of four fellows each academic year. Each training year is divided into two six-month blocks.
The first six-month block is comprised of clinical rotations shared between Harris County Health System and The Menninger Clinic. Fellow rotations at Harris Health include addiction-specific cases in the Emergency Department at Ben Taub Hospital and outpatient work within the Substance/Addiction Treatment Program In addition, there will be unique experiences within an Obstetrics-Addictions rotation and Child and Adolescent Addiction Psychiatry clinic. Rotations at The Menninger Clinic, a voluntary long-term inpatient treatment program, will include invaluable experiences working with the addictions faculty in both inpatient and outpatient settings as well as formal assessment and consultation.
The second six-month block is composed of clinical rotations shared between Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and other community affiliates such as the Montrose Center and Santa Maria Hostel. While training at the MEDVAMC, fellows will have rich experiences with chemical dependency groups, the VA's Opioid Treatment Program which offers Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, addictions-based Consultation- Liaison rotation, and acute withdrawal management inpatient treatment for co-occurring disorders. During these six months, fellows conduct outpatient work at The Montrose Center, which carries a special emphasis on serving the LGBTQ population, while care at the Santa Maria Hostel allows trainees to make a powerful impact on the recovery of female patients, particularly those struggling with addiction during the perinatal and postpartum periods.
Case conferences and journal clubs allow fellows to engage in interdisciplinary problem-solving with challenging cases, stay connected to other fellows, as well as stay up to date on the most relevant addictions literature.
Overall, these rotations will provide a well-rounded experience for trainees that spans the full spectrum in levels of care for substance use disorder. Fellows will master both FDA-approved and off-label pharmacotherapeutic treatment of use disorders, including buprenorphine and methadone. Fellows will fortify skills in addictions-based therapy, including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and twelve-step facilitation.
