.jpg "Heather J. Bell, MD photo")
Addiction and Family Physician
Stratis Health, CentraCare
University Of Minnesota
Little Falls, Minnesota
Dr. Heather Bell initially began her career as a rural primary care physician. With the surge in opioid prescribing and the mounting opioid epidemic, in 2015 she began an opioid stewardship program through state funding that has since led to pilot programs in 12 additional Minnesota communities. Funding through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) enabled these communities to focus efforts on appropriate opioid prescribing and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment with technical assistance provided by Dr. Bell. After notable success in her local programs, The Department of Human Services (DHS) provided funding for Dr. Bell to co-facilitate a ProjectECHO focused on opioid prescribing and addiction topics, now in its 5th year. The ECHO program, over time, gew to include programs for medical students, physician assistant students, and even COVID! Her passion in this field then led her to pursue her board certification in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Bell's work has, most notably, led her to recognition: the American Hospital Association (AHA) NOVA award, the 2020 Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) Presidents Award, and the Minnesota Academy for Family Physicians (MAFP) Family Physician of the year. She also co-hosts two addiction podcasts, "The Addiction Connection" and, with her co-presenter, an upcoming podcast "Recovering Addiction" highlighting the intersection and nuanced differences between a person in recovery and the medical community.
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM