Changing Minds

How can we meet clinicians where they are while helping move evidence into practice?Join us for a conversation with Megan Pruitt, Director of the SCORxE Academic Detailing Service at the Medical University of South Carolina. Megan shares her journey into academic detailing, how SCORxE tailors its approach to the needs of clinicians in South Carolina, and what she’s learned about building trust, supporting detailers, and translating evidence into meaningful change—especially in today’s complex healthcare landscape. We also look ahead to her upcoming session at the NaRCAD Conference in November.Learn more and register for the conference: https://www.narcad.org/conference-series.html

Being a successful detailer is about so much more than conveying good evidence, or reaching the most clinicians. Come and chat with Vishal Kinkhabwala, MD, MPH, a Training Consultant and Expert Facilitator at NaRCAD, as he drops wisdom nuggets about the importance of camaraderie, deep listening, being of service, building rapport, and approaching clinicians as "just a new friend I haven't met yet." Vishal shares his experiences as a detailer in the area of infectious disease prevention, his tips for building relationships, and the importance of true presence, not "acting like you're listening."A great episode to tune into for new and veteran detailers alike, and anyone who wants to learn more about the impact of 1:1 clinical outreach education visits in clinicians' own frontline environments.

For patients who don't feel safe inside the clinic, how can we bring the best of public health outreach to them?Join us for the tea on how to interweave public health initiatives into artistic spaces where community members feel safe, seen, and understood. Zack Jenio, Program Manager of Mile High Behavioral Health in Denver, Colorado, who also hails as Drag Queen Dr. Zacharina Jenny-hoe, discusses the impact of meeting patient needs by bringing harm reduction, including HIV prevention tools and naloxone, to performance spaces. We also discuss challenges queer patients face in primary care clinics where trust can be unintentionally eroded by stigma; the allure of drag as a celebration of femininity and glamour; and the ways that clinicians can start thinking creatively about patient needs, identity, and access to care--OUTSIDE of the traditional healthcare space.

How do we stay the course and stay rooted in facts amidst a major disruption impacting the healthcare landscape?"Godfather" and originator of academic detailing Jerry Avorn joins the show to share his reflections on the current state of healthcare; the history of treatment and medications prior to rigorous study; his new book, Rethinking Medications; the critical importance of treating evidence, facts, and science as our collective North Star; and where we can look to a future where there is hope of correcting our course back towards the kind of evidence-based clinical care and health policy that we need, now more than ever!Visit rethinkmeds.info to connect with other Rethinking Medications readers, listeners, and thinkers, and check out the 2025 academic detailing systematic review mentioned in this episode, along with one from 2007.(Click here for the audio transcription.)

How can harm reduction strategies not only save lives but also challenge stigma and transform communities?In this episode, Maggie Kaufmann, Director of Harm Reduction Programs at the University of Illinois Chicago dives deep into harm reduction strategies, exploring how these evidence-based approaches save lives, combat stigma, and integrate with academic detailing projects. Maggie shares insights on transformative and creative harm reduction initiatives, including drug checking, mobile medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services, overdose prevention sites, and community-based education in local theaters. Tune in for a compelling conversation on the evolving landscape of harm reduction and its impact on public health.If you have any questions about integrating harm reduction into academic detailing projects, please contact Maggie at [email protected]​.

How can innovation and adaptation drive the field of academic detailing forward?In this episode, Founder and Director Mike Fischer shares the importance of adapting the AD model to meet diverse needs and tackle emerging public health challenges. We discuss the uncertainty of the landscape that lies ahead, meeting it with hope that we can continue to explore new opportunities to improve clinical care. Join us as we discuss the growth of the NaRCAD community, highlighting its role in shaping the future of clinical outreach education.Additional Resources:NaRCAD's Conference Hub: https://www.narcad.org/the-conference-hub.htmlNaRCAD's Literature Archives: https://www.narcad.org/adlit.html

How can meaningful conversations impact the opioid crisis? Academic Detailer Alexandria Stevenson from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County discusses her team’s important work on opioid safety and overdose prevention. Funded by the CDC's Overdose Data to Action Local Grant, Alexandria shares how her team collaborates with clinicians and community partners to promote harm reduction, distribute free naloxone kits, and educate the community.​

How can we ensure that community partnerships are front-and-center in improving patient health? Pharmacist, detailer, and trainer Jacki Travers shares insights into a five-year collaboration with the Oklahoma State Department of Health aimed at reducing health disparities related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This project empowers local populations by partnering with safe spaces at the heart of communities, inviting libraries, faith-based organizations, and community health workers to work in harmony with detailing to reduce health disparities and increase patient access to care, resources, and support.