Maximizing AA Referrals: Understanding the History and Power of Self-Help Meetings

Friday, April 25, 2025

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM

Presenter(s)

Sherry Nykiel, MD

Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance
Media, Pennsylvania
Vaibhav Vyas, MD

Addiction Psychiatry Fellow
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stanley Nkemjika, MD, MPH

Addiction Psychiatry Fellow
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The session "Maximizing AA Referrals: Understanding the History and Power of Self-Help Meetings" provides healthcare professionals with strategies to effectively refer patients to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other mutual support groups. Through a blend of lectures and interactive group activities, participants will explore AA’s history, benefits, and principles while learning to address common barriers to referrals. The session emphasizes culturally sensitive, patient-centered approaches to promote equitable access to recovery resources, improving addiction treatment outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

Learners will be able to:

By the end of the session, participants will be able to articulate the key principles of AA, including the 12 steps and the role of anonymity, demonstrating understanding through interactive discussions and case studies.
Participants will practice and demonstrate effective referral strategies by working through case studies in small groups, focusing on overcoming barriers such as patient resistance, stigma, and cultural differences.
Participants will be able to explain how involvement in AA contributes to long-term abstinence and improved well-being by reviewing research findings and discussing them in relation to patient care scenarios.

Disclosure(s):

Sherry Nykiel, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Vaibhav Vyas, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Stanley Nkemjika, MD, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose