For over 25 years, IRETA has hosted the Scaife Medical Student Fellowship in Substance Use Disorders, a three-week fellowship focusing on the many different facets of addiction and its treatment. This summer, IRETA welcomed two cohorts of medical students and one pharmacy student for the annual program. Over three intensive weeks in June and July students engaged in a combination of virtual classroom learning, site visits in the Pittsburgh area, and direct patient interactions, all designed to deepen their understanding of substance use disorders (SUDs) and the diverse approaches to treatment.
The fellowship provides a unique immersive experience that most medical students would not otherwise receive as part of their medical training. Participants spend their first week in virtual seminars, hearing from addiction medicine experts, researchers, and individuals with lived experience. The next two weeks are spent in Pittsburgh visiting treatment facilities, harm reduction organizations, a Veterans Administration hospital, correctional health settings, and community-based recovery programs.
We spoke with three fellows who participated in this year’s program—Austin Lin, Dulce’ Rivera, and Ella Konrad—about their experiences, the moments that stood out, and their perceptions about how the program will help shape their future as physicians.
Beyond the Textbook: A Hands-On Education
The Scaife Fellowship is designed to give students a broad and practical understanding of SUDs by combining formal instruction with first-hand exposure to clinical environments. Rather than focusing solely on research or lecture-based learning, the program emphasizes real-world applications and patient-centered care.
Austin, a second-year medical student who learned about the fellowship from a mentor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth said:
“In medical school, we only had one or two lectures on addiction, and it didn’t go very in depth. Some schools require you to attend an AA or NA meeting to check a box, but this fellowship offers a fully immersive experience to learn about addiction and the treatments available.”
Dulce’, a second-year student at the University of Missouri, valued the variety of care settings she experienced:
“It gives you exposure to such a diverse array of clinical settings and types of treatment that could be applicable to any field of medicine. It’s hands-on experience that most medical students will never receive.”
Ella, a second-year student at Tulane, appreciated the balance of education and application:
“It was a mix of education and then applying it in more of a clinical, everyday setting.”
Impactful Moments
Throughout the fellowship, students interact directly with people in treatment and recovery, as well as with clinicians and community leaders who support them. This patient-centered exposure is central to the program’s mission, allowing fellows to see the human stories behind the statistics and to connect medical knowledge with empathy in practice. For example, this year students received a lecture from a medical doctor with lived experience with addiction and recovery. They also toured the Pittsburgh Veteran’s Administration (VA) hospital with a physician and participated in a harm reduction supply packing party at Prevention Point Pittsburgh.
Austin recalled one particularly meaningful encounter:
“The physician we spoke to who had a history of addiction shared a perspective you rarely hear about outside this fellowship.”
For Dulce’, the VA visit was especially impactful:
“It was a different type of care than I had seen before—bringing education to people with long-term substance use disorders.”
Ella’s highlight was contributing to a harm reduction initiative:
“Helping at Prevention Point’s harm reduction supply packing party felt like a direct way to make a difference by helping people access safe supplies.”
Shifting Perspectives
A central aim of the fellowship is to challenge preconceived notions about addiction and its treatment. By visiting a range of facilities, from jails to inpatient rehabilitation centers, students see first-hand how environment, approach, and philosophy influence patient outcomes.
Austin said the program changed how he views harm reduction:
“Before the program I had a lot of questions and some misunderstanding about the harm reduction approach. Through the fellowship, I learned how it can provide meaningful support to individuals.”
Dulce’ described how a local inpatient rehabilitation provider organization showed varied treatment options that reshaped her view:
“You don’t have to treat substance use one way, and it doesn’t always have to be just medicine. It can be medications combined with different types of counseling or therapies that reflect people’s individuality.”
Ella compared two settings she visited:
“In criminal justice settings addiction treatment can be a lot more punitive… and then a treatment center is much more supportive and enriching.”
Carrying Lessons Forward
The fellowship not only expands medical knowledge but also strengthens practical skills students can use throughout their careers. Motivational interviewing, stigma reduction, and harm reduction strategies are emphasized, preparing fellows to meet patients where they are and provide compassionate, effective care.
Austin noted how his fellowship experience is already influencing his work:
“I’m working with individuals who were recently incarcerated, many of whom struggle with addiction. The fellowship gave me perspective and patience when working with this population.”
Dulce’ highlighted the value of practicing sensitive communication skills:
“Having the chance to practice motivational interviewing with this population is incredibly applicable. Regardless of where you work, you’re likely to encounter patients affected by substance use.”
Ella added:
“I feel comfortable talking to patients about smoking, alcohol use, or other behaviors, and now I have the skills to help them even more.”
Advice for Future Fellows
The students agreed that the Scaife Fellowship is a valuable opportunity for any medical student, regardless of their specialty. It offers rare access to patient populations, treatment settings, and clinical experiences that can shape both professional practice and personal perspective.
Austin said:
“For anyone interested in working with patients who struggle with addiction, this fellowship offers experiences that aren’t in our medical education curriculum.”
Dulce’ encouraged students from all specialties to apply:
“Even if you’re not interested in psychiatry, the fellowship provides exposure to diverse clinical settings and treatment types that could be useful in any specialty.”
Ella reflected on its broader importance:
“You get to see problems like substance use, addiction, and mental health up close, and how barriers like poverty and discrimination actually play out in people’s lives. These are the patients we’ll see in clinic one day.”
Learn more about the Scaife Medical Student Fellowship in Substance Use Disorders and how to apply for next year’s program at https://ireta.org/scaife-medical-student-fellowship-in-substance-use-disorders/.
