Photo: Faith Ninivaggi
Stephanie Carreiro, MD, PhD’22, associate professor of emergency medicine, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) Health Equity Accelerator to support her work developing digital tools that enhance access to substance use disorder care in underserved communities.
The Digital Health Tools for Enhancing Health Equity in Substance Use Disorder Care project will use a mobile app and wearable sensor system, RAE cHealth, to identify and reduce barriers to recovery support. Through the app, patients will connect directly with peer recovery coaches and receive real-time guidance, empowering them to manage their recovery more independently.
“This award enables us to further integrate technology into the recovery process for populations that have traditionally faced obstacles to care,” said Dr. Carreiro. “We aim to demonstrate the value of this tool not only in improving outcomes but also in ensuring sustainability through data that matters to patients and payers alike.”
The UMass Chan-led study will engage individuals in active recovery for a 30-day pilot, collecting patient-centered outcomes and health care utilization data to evaluate the tool’s impact.
The MLSC Health Equity Accelerator program supports innovative solutions that reduce disparities in health care and improve outcomes for historically marginalized communities. Carreiro is one of five recipients in Massachusetts to receive this year’s award.
