Addiction Medicine
Purpose
The Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Highland Hospital-Alameda Health System in Oakland, California, is dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by our population of patients who use drugs, comprised largely of patients of color facing health inequities related to social determinants of health. Our mission is to provide comprehensive and equitable care, support, and education to empower our patients and their communities on the path to recovery. This is aligned with the greater mission of Alameda Health System, “Caring, Healing, Teaching, Serving All.”
We are committed to:
Caring with Cultural Humility: We recognize and respect the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and cultural contexts of our patients. Through an approach grounded in cultural humility, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment that fosters trust and understanding.
Holistic Treatment: We believe in a holistic approach to addiction medicine, acknowledging that addiction affects every aspect of an individual’s life. Our fellowship emphasizes comprehensive care that integrates physical, mental, and social well-being, addressing the multifaceted needs of our patients.
Health Equity: We are dedicated to reducing disparities in addiction treatment by actively addressing the social determinants of health that disproportionately impact communities of color. We advocate for policies and practices that promote equitable access to quality care, while continuously working towards dismantling systemic barriers.
Community Engagement: We understand the importance of community involvement in addressing addiction. We collaborate with local organizations, community leaders, and grassroots initiatives to develop culturally appropriate interventions, prevention strategies, and support networks. We strive to empower individuals and communities to take an active role in their recovery journey.
Education and Training: We are committed to advancing addiction medicine knowledge and skills among healthcare professionals. Our fellowship program provides comprehensive training, mentorship, and research opportunities, aiming to develop leaders who will advocate for evidence-based practices and drive positive change in addiction medicine.
Research and Innovation: We foster a culture of research and innovation, striving to contribute to the field of addiction medicine. Through rigorous research, evaluation of outcomes, and continuous quality improvement, we seek to advance evidence-based practices, enhance patient outcomes, and promote innovative solutions for addiction treatment.
By embodying these principles, the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California, aims to make a lasting impact on the lives of our patients.
Highland is a founding site of California Bridge: https://bridgetotreatment.org/about/
Highland has been a leader in acute care and emergency aspect of addiction medicine since 2017, implementing radical low-barrier patient-centered care
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/18/health/opioid-addiction-treatment.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/us/california-today-opioid-addiction-treatment-oakland.html
Highland on the front lines of Oakland’s meth crisis:
Highland Bridge provides free open-access addiction medicine education: https://www.highlandbridge.org/
- Structured clinical inpatient rotation: Highland Addiction Medicine Inpatient Consult service
- Structured clinical outpatient rotations: Highland Bridge Clinic, including one morning/week at Juvenile Justice Center (Alameda County’s adolescent carceral service)
Elective rotations examples:
Longitudinal street medicine outreach elective at Eddie’s Place and Timmy’s Place, Alameda Health System’s medical respite site for people experiencing houselessness and mental health crises.
Methadone OTP at various sites including HAART Oakland, Alameda County’s nonprofit OTP
Rural medicine electives at :
-Indian Health Services elective (Arizona/New Mexico)
-Local rural medicine electives in Northern California
-Rural addiction medicine in Espanola, New Mexico
During each month with the exception of off-site electives and vacation time:
- The fellow will devote one half weekday per week to scholarly activity/research time (10% of the month)
- The fellow will devote one half weekday per week to continuity clinic (10% of month). Examples of current continuity clinics:
– High risk post overdose follow-up clinic
-Follow-up clinic for patients with SUD admitted to Trauma service
-Follow-up clinic at HEPPAC syringe exchange site in Oakland - One half day per week of protected time for primary clinic time. For example medicine/psychiatry/ob-gyn clinic or EM shift.
Vacation: a total of 20 weekdays taken during the year in addition to university and federal holidays
Didactics: Orientation month with site tours, intensive motivational interviewing training, weekly didactics, experiential learning, training, professional conferences, and wellness activities scheduled throughout the year.
- 12 months. Our fellowship starts on the first Monday of August annually.
- All current or prospective graduates of 3+ year residency program are most welcome to apply!
- Board Eligible/Board Certified in Primary Specialty
- Our fellows are compensated as PGY-5 learners with annual pay raises according to the CIR contract. For 2027-2028, the salary will be $104,273.26
- Currently working to be CIR SEIU represented and have similar benefits. Click Here for more benefit info
Applications for fellowship are accepted through the ERAS application and NRMP match.
- Please note we do not sponsor visas
- You will need to apply for your California medical license if matched
- Our program is listed as: Alameda Health System- Highland Hospital
The ACGME ID is: 4040540016 - Interviews will be held virtually on Tuesday’s. Interview invitations are sent in August.
Dr. Kay Lind, MD, MACM
Program Director
Core Faculty
Dr. Monish Ullal, MD
Associate Program Director
Internal Medicine
Dr. Erik Anderson, MD
Research Director, Director of Inpatient Consult Service
Emergency Medicine
Dr. Andrew Herring, MD
Associate Research Director
Emergency Medicine
Dr. Joan Chen, MD
Dr. Chen completed their EM residency at Mt. Sinai. Their current professional interests include high-risk post overdose care, EMS provision of buprenorphine, and qualitative research on equity projects. They are current REACH scholar.
Dr. Courtney Severin, MD
Dr. Severin completed their EM residency at Cook County. Her current professional interests include follow-up care for patients with SUD who experienced traumatic injuries and graduate medical education.
Dr. Janani Sridharan
Dr. Sridharan completed her IM residency at Highland Hospital- Alameda Health System. Her current professional interests include street medicine and the provision of SUD care at syringe exchange and medical respite sites.
Megan Heeney, MD
Dr. Heeney is currently employed with Alameda Health System as a clinician practicing in both the division of addiction medicine and the department of emergency medicine. Her professional interests include optimizing safety in clinical settings, reproductive justice, and SUD care for patients after traumatic injuries. She completed the RAMS scholar program as fellow and in the year following.
Michelle Patregnani, MD
Dr. Patregnani is currently employed with Alameda Health System as a clinician practicing in both the division of addiction medicine and the department of emergency medicine. Her professional interests include graduate medical education and curriculum development, and she serves as associate program director for the addiction medicine fellowship.
For program inquiries please contact
Dr. Kay Lind, MD
Program Director
kalind@alamedahealthsystem.org
Valeska Hidalgo
Program Coordinator
vhidalgo@alamedahealthsystem.org
