Addiction Medicine Fellowship

Clinica Sierra Vista, in collaboration with the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, is providing a 1-year comprehensive training program designed to equip family medicine physicians with the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to effectively address the complexities of substance use disorders in complex and marginalized populations.

The Fellowship was accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in 2023, effective date July 1, 2024. The fellowship program is located at the Physicians Plaza Community Health Clinic - a Federally Qualified Health Center in Kern County, California.

Program Highlights

Through a combination of clinical rotations and hands-on experiences, fellows will gain exposure to a diverse range of addiction cases, including substance use disorders, behavioral addictions, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Our program provides a well-rounded clinical experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings and fellows will have a robust education in Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT), including utilization of long-acting injectable Buprenorphine. Additionally, fellows will have the opportunity learn to apply these clinical and behavioral skills in the chronically unsheltered patients serviced by Clinica Sierra Vista's street medicine teams.

Collaboration is key in addiction medicine. Fellows will have the opportunity to work closely with specialists, therapists, and other healthcare professionals, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Our fellowship places a strong emphasis on education and research. Fellows will engage in educational activities, including lectures, workshops, and case discussions. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing research projects focused on advancing addiction medicine knowledge and practices.

Recognizing the impact of addiction on communities, our program encourages fellows to engage with community organizations and resources. This involvement aims to enhance community-based interventions and support systems for individuals affected by addiction.

Fellows will be equipped with advocacy skills to champion for the needs of patients with addiction issues. This includes promoting policies that support harm reduction, access to treatment, and reducing stigma associated with addiction.

Program Aims

The Addiction Medicine Fellowship is designed to equip primary care physicians to become academic and clinical leaders by obtaining Board Certification in the subspecialty of Addiction Medicine.