Nine Doctor of Pharmacy students have seen what it is like to work as a pharmacist on an uncommon type of medical team this year, providing medication-assisted treatment for addiction to opioids, such as heroin or prescription pain killers. 

The five-week elective advanced rotation at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) is for fourth-year PharmD students. It was established by College of Pharmacy Clinical Assistant Professor Benjamin Miskle. Miskle works at the medication-assisted treatment clinic, and psychiatry clinics, at UIHC side-by-side with faculty and staff from the Department of Psychiatry.

Patients in the clinic receive medications to treat addiction along with counseling and behavioral therapies. Pharmacy students learned how medications block cravings and prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Read more about this rotation and UI Pharmacy student Shelby Reid.