Substance Use Disorder Certificate Program

CHALLENGE

The Associate Dean for Student Services developed a continuing education program to help pharmacists and other healthcare professionals better recognize and recommend treatment for substance use disorders and asked me to use part of a $50,000 grant from AmerisourceBergen to develop a marketing and communications plan to promote the event and drive registrations.

STRATEGY

First, I created promotional materials, including a slide deck and a flyer to help attract strategic partners. The Associate Dean presented the program to the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, and the organization agreed to share the program with members of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network, a group of independent pharmacy owners, to encourage all employees to register for and complete the program. Additionally, PPA agreed to offer the program the day before the organization’s annual conference. Additionally, several academic programs within Duquesne University, including the physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and nursing programs allowed students to complete the program for elective credits.

MARKETING MATERIALS

EMAIL

RESULTS

In addition to several hundred student pharmacists and physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and nursing students, over 700 licensed pharmacists and healthcare professionals completed the certificate program between 2018 and 2020. The Associate Dean used additional funding to develop and launch a follow up program, Substance Use Disorder: Treatment & Alternative Approaches to Pain Management, in 2020 and won the 2021 Recovery Advocate Award, given to a person or group working to change policy or public opinion about addiction and recovery, from the Pittsburgh Recovery Walk.