Thomas Jefferson University’s Center for MATER Designated as an American Academy of Nursing Edge Runner

PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 26, 2024) — Thomas Jefferson University is pleased to announce that the Jefferson Center for Maternal Addiction Treatment, Education & Research (MATER) at Jefferson College of Nursing has been designated as an Edge Runner by the American Academy of Nursing. Edge Runners are evidence-based, nurse-designed models that demonstrate significant clinical, financial, community, and policy outcomes with proven sustainability and replicability. Each of these programs highlights nurses’ ingenuity and collaboration in developing new methods to provide care and promote health equity.

“It is challenging to fully describe the impact of MATER’s work, such as evaluating a group well-child care model for infants of women/parents in substance use disorder treatment, personalizing the use of medications for opioid use disorder to match the dynamic physiology of pregnancy, integrating doula support for pregnant and parenting women/people through the first year postpartum, and more. As it enters its 50^th year, MATER has been, and will continue to be an Edge Runner,” said Dennis J. Hand, PhD, Executive Director of the Jefferson Center for MATER.

MATER is a transdisciplinary clinical, academic, and research unit that focuses on comprehensive and holistic substance use disorder treatment for pregnant and parenting women and people (PPWP) in Philadelphia, PA. MATER provides care to approximately 250 PPWP and their families each year, trains multiple nursing and medical students, residents, and fellows annually, and maintains an impactful and continuously funded research team.

“The Jefferson Center for MATER is a shining example of an Edge Runner, continuously developing, testing, implementing, and sustaining models addressing a wide range of needs among families affected by substance use disorders,” said Marie Ann Marino EdD, RN, FAAN, Dean of Jefferson College of Nursing. “MATER’s comprehensive, whole-person and whole-family approach to the substance use disorder crisis fits perfectly with the nursing perspective. Rather than focusing just on the medical component of substance use disorders, the MATER leadership team responds to the broader social and environmental facets along with the medical component which is aligned with the nurturing philosophy of nursing.”

"The Academy is proud to designate solution-oriented initiatives as Edge Runners. The diverse focus of the 2024 models highlights the wide range of services, vital support, and innovative team-based approaches that the nursing profession provides,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “Each Edge Runner model demonstrates how nurses are pioneers in addressing important health care challenges.”

All of the Academy’s Edge Runner profiles are available to view here. The program leads for each of these innovative models of care will be honored at the 2024 Health Policy Conference, taking place October 31-November 2, 2024 in Washington, DC.