Addiction Medicine, Motivational Interviewing, and the Power of Connection with Kerith Hartmann, PA

Addiction medicine touches nearly every area of healthcare, yet many clinicians receive limited training in recognizing and treating substance use disorders.

In this episode of PA Mindset Matters, Jessica Spissinger, PA-C, LICSW, CAQ-Psych, and Mercedes Dodge, MPAS, PA-C, CAQ-Psych, sit down with Kerith Hartmann, MPAS, PA-C, an addiction medicine PA at Oregon Health & Science University.

Kerith works across inpatient addiction medicine consultation and outpatient care for patients with substance use disorders, complex chronic illness, and overlapping pain concerns. She is also a board member of the Society for Addiction Medicine of PAs and a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.

One of her strongest messages:

“Learn motivational interviewing—really learn it. Not the concept, the practice.”

In this conversation, we discuss:

• opioid, alcohol, and stimulant use disorders• medications for addiction treatment• motivational interviewing in real clinical practice• contingency management• harm reduction and reducing stigma• addiction and chronic pain overlap• trauma-informed care• clinician resilience and burnout• building a career in addiction medicine

Kerith also shares the personal and professional experiences that led her into this field and reminds us that clinicians do not have to identify as addiction specialists to make a meaningful difference for patients with substance use disorders.

Listen to the full conversation on PA Mindset Matters and share it with a colleague who cares for patients affected by substance use.

Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

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