Rachel French

With a background as a Registered Nurse in a Federally Qualified Health Center providing opioid use disorder treatment, Dr. French witnessed firsthand how community-based care for opioid use disorder is often disrupted when patients are hospitalized. This experience has shaped her research, which focuses on improving care for individuals with opioid and other substance use disorders. While hospitals have made progress in offering evidence-based medications like buprenorphine and methadone to patients with opioid use disorder, they continue to struggle with effectively engaging patients who are not interested in treatment. Dr. French’s work, rooted in harm reduction, aims to improve practices in supporting these individuals by ensuring care is responsive to their needs. Her research also explores strategies for developing a nursing workforce that is both interested in and equipped to provide evidence-based care for individuals with substance use disorders.