For Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, PhD, member of the C-DIAS Research Core—Methods & Measures Section, implementation science is about turning proven therapies into accessible, adaptable care.

For C-DIAS Fellow Natasha Ludwig-Barron, PhD, research is deeply personal. A first-generation college student raised in Los Angeles by a single mother, Natasha’s path into epidemiology was shaped by her family’s history with addiction and her conviction that health is a matter of human rights. “At my core,” she said, “I’m a human rights activist. I want to see programs reaching the communities that need them most.” Her journey to…

C-DIAS Fellow Will Garneau, MD, MPH, came to research through the front lines of clinical care. Originally trained as a hospitalist, Will found his path shifting during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he began observing unusual patient outcomes in the ICU. Encouraged by a colleague to write a case series, he discovered the power of research to shed light on pressing health challenges. “I didn’t see myself as a researcher at…

The 2025 C-DIAS Annual Meeting held in September was a tremendous success, bringing together fellows, faculty, and collaborators for two days of learning, reflection, and connection in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The event opened with a warm Fellows Welcome Lunch, followed by focused sessions introducing Cohort 3 to Implementation Science for Addiction Health Services and co-designing with Cohort 2. Fellows also had the opportunity to dive into research core sections…

Rachel French, PhD, MSHP, RN, is an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, where she is focused on improving care and outcomes for people with substance use disorders. Her path to research was shaped by her early work as a nurse in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). “One patient became ill. Her OUD was in remission. She was hospitalized, treated poorly, stigmatized, pain and withdrawal…