Randi Sokol. MD, MPH, MMedEd, joins us to outline how passionate family medicine practitioners can provide evidence-based care that meets the needs of patients affected by opioid use disorder. Dr Sokol shares that practitioners do not need to know everything about addiction medicine to offer comprehensive, compassionate care, and she offers resources to help those seeking training or mentorship. Our host and guest emphasize the importance of quality training for the next generation of family docs coming through residency programs, and share additional resources for those working with residents.

Hosted by Saria Saccocio, MD, MHA, FAAFP

Copyright © Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2024

Resources

• STFM Addiction Medicine Curriculum 
• Providers Clinical Support System (PCCS) Homepage 
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 
• AAFP New Training Requirement for Controlled Substance Rx: Answers to Common Questions
• AAFP New DEA Training Requirement: Who has to do it, and how to get it done

Randi Sokol, MD, MPH, MMedEd: 

Randi Sokol, MD, MPH, MMedEd, is an Assistant Professor at the Tufts Family Medicine Residency Program and Instructor at Harvard Medical School.  She is Board Certified in both Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine.  She earned her B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania, her Medical Degree and Masters in Public Health from Tulane University, completed Family Medicine Residency at UC-Davis, and earned a Masters in Medical Education through the University of Dundee.

At the Tufts Family Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Sokol is involved in clinical work, teaching, research, and advocacy, specifically around vulnerable populations that struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues.  She is the Program Director for the Tufts Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Cambridge Health Alliance. She serves as the Director of the pain and addiction curriculum for residents, runs the Addiction Elective for Tufts medical students, and has developed a National Addiction Curriculum for Family Medicine Residency Programs across the country. Dr. Sokol has special interest in providing group visits as venue for treating patients with opioid use disorder (known as “GBOT”): She started group visits at her clinic that have now been running for 9 years, has published numerous research articles on this topic helping coin the “GBOT” term in the medical literature, and she mentors other clinical sites in implementing this model of care. She previously served as a PCSS-certified to trains providers to become Buprenorphine waivered (before the X waiver requirement was removed). She also runs a consultation service that supports primary care providers in caring for patients with pain and addiction.  Additionally, she has particular expertise around medical education, has served on a national committee for Graduate Medical Education, she is the Director of Faculty Development at her residency program and has published numerous research articles related to how people learn. In her free time, Dr. Sokol is an avid exerciser, enjoys spending time with her geriatric rescue dog, and is a “Big Sister” in the “Big/Little Sister” program.