July 2025: Institute co-hosts Substance Use and Pain Management Gathering: Empowering Bemidji Area Tribes

The U-M Opioid Research Institute, along with Indian Country Echo and the U-M College of Pharmacy’s Collaborative for Indigenous Resources in Care, Learning and Excellence (UMCOP-CIRCLE), hosted a two-day gathering focused on substance use and pain management in July 2025. The gathering brought together clinicians from across the Indian Health Service (IHS) Bemidji Area, which includes federally recognized tribes, urban Indian communities and IHS service units in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as participants from beyond the region. Participants connected with experts and tribal community voices, shared experiences and explored evidence-based best practices alongside culturally grounded approaches to care. Continuing education (CE) credits were offered in medicine, nursing, physician associate, social work, psychology, pharmacy and dentistry, with CE provided by the IHS Clinical Support Center and U-M School of Dentistry.

Below is a list of the presentations from the training.

If you have any questions about the presentations or the event in general, please reach out to the Institute team at UM-Opioids@umich.edu

If you are interested in learning more about Indian Country ECHO and connecting with the group for educational, clinical consultation and technical assistance support, please email echo@npaihb.org.

July 23 – Day 1

SUD Data Overview – Gupta & Nguyen

Wellness Center Model: Swinomish Indian Tribal Community – Stephens

Treating OUD Primary Care Settings – Hutchinson

Indian Country ECHO: An Opioid-Related Complication: Hepatitis C Virus – Perumalswami

Management of Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain – Lagisetty

July 24 – Day 2

Using Data to Combat the Opioid Crisis – Nalliah

Pain Management in Primary Care – Smith

Integrative Approaches to Pain Management – Schneiderhan

Alcohol Use Disorder – Perumalswami

Harm Reduction Strategies & Local Resources – Dahlem