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For medical students at Roseman University College of Medicine, learning to care for patients increasingly means stepping beyond traditional clinic walls. A new initiative from the college’s gives students the opportunity to do exactly that –bringing compassionate, interdisciplinary care directly into the homes of families navigating recovery.

Through a $50,000 grant from , EMPOWERED has launched EMPOWERED Home (+), a new program that delivers in-home recovery support for pregnant and postpartum individuals affected by opioid and stimulant use disorders. The program expands critical wraparound services for families across Southern Nevada while also providing learning opportunities for Roseman medical students.

“This investment from Molina allows us to meet families where recovery truly happens,” said Andria Peterson, PharmD, co-founder and executive director of EMPOWERED and chair of the Department of Bioethics, Humanism and Policy at Roseman University College of Medicine. “By stepping into the home, we can better identify barriers to care, strengthen family-centered support systems and improve health outcomes for parents and children alike.”

Through structured home visits, Roseman medical students work alongside College of Medicine faculty clinicians and EMPOWERED peer recovery specialists to support families in recovery. These teams conduct screenings, coordinate care, provide education, and help connect families with critical community resources, giving students valuable firsthand insight into substance use disorders and the social factors that shape recovery.

The program is modeled similarly to the College of Medicine’s GENESIS program, which sends teams of medical students, community workers, and clinicians into the community to provide direct support to households facing significant social and medical challenges. EMPOWERED Home (+) adapts that successful approach specifically for EMPOWERED clients, pregnant and postpartum individuals working toward recovery from substance use disorders, allowing care teams to meet families in the environments where daily life, parenting, and recovery intersect.

The approach reflects an important shift in medical education, with the goal of training future physicians to understand health in the context of everyday life.

By participating in home visits, students will see firsthand how factors such as housing stability, transportation, family dynamics, and access to resources influence health outcomes. These experiences help prepare them to provide compassionate, patient-centered care for individuals facing substance use disorders and other complex health challenges.

The need for innovative care models is urgent. Drug overdose is the leading cause of death among women of childbearing age (15–44) both nationally and in Nevada. In the state, it is also the leading cause of maternal mortality, which is defined as death during pregnancy or within one year after giving birth.

The one-year pilot program is expected to serve approximately 30 households in the Las Vegas area, providing personalized support that goes beyond traditional clinical care.

Funding from Molina Healthcare supports clinical equipment for home visits, overdose prevention and first-aid kits, health promotion materials, professional training resources, and outreach and education efforts designed to strengthen engagement with families.

For Molina Healthcare of Nevada, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving maternal health and expanding recovery services throughout the state.

“Molina is deeply committed to Nevada and proud to partner with EMPOWERED to expand access to comprehensive, recovery-focused care,” said Dr. Nick Hollister, behavioral health medical director at Molina Healthcare of Nevada. “By connecting mothers with medical services, counseling, peer support, education, and community resources, this program strengthens families and helps moms thrive during and after pregnancy.”

Since its founding in 2018, the EMPOWERED program at Roseman University College of Medicine has focused on supporting pregnant and postpartum individuals recovering from substance use disorders, primarily opioids and stimulants. The program connects participants with medical treatment, individual and group therapy, peer support, housing resources, education, and basic living supplies. Today, EMPOWERED serves families across Southern Nevada; Reno, Carson City, and Lyon and Churchill counties in Northern Nevada; and Weber and Davis counties in Utah.

With EMPOWERED Home (+), Peterson hopes the pilot will demonstrate the impact of bringing recovery support directly into the community while also preparing the next generation of physicians to care for patients with empathy, insight, and a deep understanding of the challenges families face outside the EMPOWERED’s walls.

By combining community care, education, and collaboration, EMPOWERED Home (+) reflects Roseman University’s mission to improve health outcomes while training health professionals who are prepared to serve where they are needed most.