Kevin Phillips named to opioid use disorder advisory group

Kevin Phillips, a trainer for the Workforce Development Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Family and Community Medicine, was named to an advisory committee focused on improving the quality of treatment for those with opioid use disorder. 

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Phillips will serve a two-year term on the committee for the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network: Equity and Quality Improvement for Medicaid Programs, known as MODRN EQUIP. The initiative brings together Medicaid programs and their university research partners in 12 states. The goal is to conduct multistate Medicaid analyses and share findings with policymakers to enhance the quality and equity of health care for Medicaid members. MODRN EQUIP is funded by the National Institutes of Health HEAL Initiative.

Committee members come from different backgrounds, from researchers and doctors to those with lived experience dealing with mental health or substance use disorder, said Phillips, an instructor for the Recovery Support Specialist Institute,  PeerWORKS and Project FUTRE. Phillips is also affiliated with the U of A Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction. He said he’s grateful to be part of an issue he’s passionate about.

“I really enjoy hearing the different perspectives from all the stakeholders,” he said. “I hope to grow my understanding of how people in various roles around the U.S. approach treatment of opioid use disorder.” 

Phillips’ supervisor, Rita Romero, a Workforce Development Program training coordinator, said he is an integral part of the U of A team who goes above and beyond to be actively involved in community outreach.

“Kevin's passion and energy for this work is motivating and inspiring to others, and his work will help our programs continue to take an active role in recovery communities in the state of Arizona and beyond,” Romero said.

Phillips said his main contributions at MODRN EQUIP will involve reviewing research or presentation materials and offering feedback. 

“I try my hardest to bring all the voices from all the people I’ve met through my position as an instructor and as a peer,” he said.