Aimee Moulin named Denny and Jeanene Dickenson Endowed Chair

Aimee Moulin, a nationally recognized expert in the treatment of substance use disorders, has been named the inaugural Denny and Jeanene Dickenson Chair in the Department of Emergency Medicine. The position will focus on advancing addiction medicine through research, education and clinical innovation.

Endowed chairs are among the highest honors in academia, providing dedicated funding to support innovative research. The Denny and Jeanene Dickenson Chair was established through a generous gift from its namesakes, reflecting their commitment to advancing care for patients with substance use disorders.

"It is critical that emergency departments are prepared to actively treat patients with substance use disorders, as many of these individuals frequently seek care there," said James F. Holmes, Bo Tomas Brofeldt Endowed Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. "The endowment of a chair ensures that Dr. Moulin and her team can continue to provide compassionate care that helps patients with substance use disorders access resources and develop treatment plans supporting both individual health and the safety of our community."

A leader in addressing addiction

Moulin is a professor at UC Davis Health, with dual appointments in the departments of Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She is also a co-founder of California Bridge, a statewide initiative dedicated to expanding access to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment in hospital emergency departments.

California Bridge trains physicians on best practices for prescribing medications, teaching the medical model of addiction to reduce stigma around addiction and helping foster working relationships with addiction treatment facilities.

"Dr. Moulin is an outlier in the best sense of the word," shared Denny Dickenson. "A leader in the treatment of substance use disorders, she pairs exceptional clinical expertise with genuine kindness and empathy. She makes every patient feel heard, valued and cared for - qualities that are increasingly rare and deeply appreciated."

The California Bridge model is being used in 276 hospitals throughout the state.

"I'm deeply honored and grateful for the generous gift from Denny and Jeanene Dickenson," said Moulin. "Emergency departments are often the first and most critical point of care for patients with substance use disorders. This role allows us to expand evidence-based treatment, reduce stigma, and build pathways to recovery that begin the moment patients walk through our doors."

Substance Use Navigator Program

In addition to funding a chair position, the donors made an estate gift to support the addiction medicine team within the Emergency Medicine department. The team provides care for patients with substance use disorders through the Substance Use Navigator program, which began in August 2015.

"Addiction is highly treatable, and success rates are better than those for many other chronic illnesses," said Moulin. "Unfortunately, patients are often offered only behavioral interventions. The most effective care combines behavioral support with medications - just as we treat diseases like diabetes or hypertension."

Through the navigator program, patients with substance use disorders are identified in the Emergency Department and referred to addiction specialists, who then prescribe medications to help reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Once stabilized, patients are connected with a navigator - certified drug and alcohol counselors who link them to local rehabilitation programs and tailor treatment plans to their needs.
UC Davis Health has five counselors serving as patient navigators in the Emergency Department.

"Addiction is a life-threatening illness. Every day someone continues to use, their risk of death remains very real - which is why we treat addiction as a medical emergency," shared Moulin. "When we're able to reach people who are struggling and offer help in a way they can truly receive, it can be life-changing. Our goal is always to support a path toward recovery, and if someone isn't ready, we make sure they know the door remains open."