Maternal SUD Program at Penn State Health

Session 2 of the Perinatal Behavioral Health Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

Date: September 17, 2025

Speaker: John Dougherty, MD

Learning Objectives:

Describe the clinical and psychosocial challenges that opioid use disorder (OUD) presents in pregnant patients.

Identify and discuss evidence-based management options for pregnant patients with OUD.

Explain how the Penn State Health program addresses the unique needs of pregnant patients with OUD, including treatment approaches and support services.

Practice GAP: Opioid use disorder in pregnancy poses significant risks to both maternal and neonatal health, yet many clinicians lack confidence in managing these complex cases. Gaps remain in understanding the benefits of medication-assisted treatment, how to initiate care for patients in crisis, and how to connect patients to integrated services. Penn State Health’s Maternal Substance Use Disorder (MSUD) Program supports these areas of need with a team-based approach that includes medication-assisted treatment and behavioral health support. However, many providers remain unaware of how to engage these resources or initiate evidence-based care in their own settings.

Contact Information: For more information, contact Valerie Williams or Alicia Novak.
Email Valerie Email Alicia