- Pharmacological treatment of opioid use disorder through all phases of the lifespan, including pregnancy
- Treatment and management of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
- Care management models within substance use disorder treatment program
- Tobacco and polysubstance use disorder treatments for pregnant and parenting individual
- Strategies to increase access to comprehensive reproductive health services for individuals with substance use disorder
- Program development and strategic planning for integrated substance use disorder treatment services
Dennis J. Hand, PhD
Associate Professor
Executive Director, Jefferson Center for Maternal Addiction Treatment, Education, and Research
Contact Information
Jefferson Center for Maternal Addiction, Treatment, Education and Research
1233 Locust Street
Suite 401
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Associate Professor
Executive Director, Jefferson Center for Maternal Addiction Treatment, Education, and Research
RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERESTS
Education
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Vermont, Behavorial Pharmacology of Human Drug Dependence (2015)
- PhD, Central Michigan University, Applied ExperimentalPsychology (2012)
- MS, Central Michigan University, Experimental Psychology (2008)
Most Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Cost-effectiveness of split-dose methadone, single-dose methadone, and buprenorphine in the treatment of opioid use disorder during pregnancy
- Understanding How Persons With Maternal Opioid Use Disorder Experience Public Food Assistance Programs WIC and SNAP
- Who Do You Love? Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses’ Role in Preventing Drug Overdoses
- Split-dosing of Methadone During Pregnancy and Postpartum Period: A Systematic Review of Outcomes
- “Someone is there with you through this [pregnancy] that isn't seeing you through a negative lens”: Considerations for integrating doula referrals into opioid treatment programs
FUNDING (LAST FIVE YEARS)
- 2022-2025, Co-Investigator. R03HS028498-01A1 (AHRQ). Doula support engagement in a population of pregnant and parenting women in drug treatment.
- 2024- present, Principal Investigator. Elevance Health Foundation. Preparing Opioid Treatment Programs and Providers for Effective Methadone Management Among Pregnant People.
- 2024-present, Co-Investigator. NIH IMPROVE-Community Implementation Program (CIP). Addressing the Needs of Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder with Group Prenatal Care.
- 2024-present, Co-Investigator. 1H79 TI087343 (SAMHSA). Project TINES (Trauma-Informed Nursing Education on Substance Use).
- 2021-2025, Co-Investigator. Pennsylvania Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs, MATER Academy: A Path to Recovery, Education, Employment, and Empowerment.
- 2020-2025, Co-Investigator. R18HS027399 (AHRQ). Group well child care intervention for infants of mothers in treatment for opioid use disorder.
- 2018-2024, Co-Investigator. 1H79 TI080335 & 01S1 (SAMHSA). Supporting Women and Children in Substance Abuse Recovery – A Family Unity Approach
- 2020-2022, Principal Investigator. Pennsylvania Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs State Opioid Response Award, Supporting Engagement and Recovery in Families Affected by Stimulant Use
- 2017-2020, Co-Investigator. R01HD070795-01A1 (NIH/NICHD) Prevention of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
- 2017-2019, Co-Investigator. R21DA043983-01A1 (NIH/NIDA) Neurobiology of Caregiving in Opioid Dependent Mothers.
AWARDS & HONORS (SELECTED)
- 2024, Alumni Award for distinction in professional practice, Central Michigan University
- 2020, Faculty Team Achievement Award, Thomas Jefferson University