The Project RESPECT team members include four buprenorphine-waivered obstetric providers, an addiction certified psychiatrist with experience in perinatal mood, two RN care managers, a clinical social worker specializing in gender-specific care and trauma, and a child life-specialist to support attachment/attunement and bonding. The Project RESPECT team supports patients throughout their recovery journey during the entire first year postpartum.

Dr. Saia is very attentive, caring, and thorough and answers question that any patient can understand! She has worked very hard to help me in every way possible to feel better. I have been through a lot in the last 2 years. I've seen several doctors, but Dr. Saia is the one who has helped me the most. She is determined to make sure I am feeling better. Thank You Dr. Saia for everything!"~ Nicole W.

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Conditions We Treat

Treatments & Services

We offer monitored, acute substance withdrawal treatment and induction of medications for opioid use disorder in pregnant patients seeking treatment. Intensive, individualized out-patient treatment plans are outlined for each patient based on the severity of their disease, their individual goals, and their recovery progress.  The out-patient medical home model provides on site, collaborative and multidisciplinary care for pregnant and post-partum patients in recovery.

The Project RESPECT clinical team collaborates and coordinates care with the inpatient Obstetric, Pediatric, Psychiatry, Social Work, Nursing and Lactation teams at Boston Medical Center to provide supportive and informed care. They also have developed strong partnerships n with multiple community based organizations including local methadone clinics, residential addiction treatment centers, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Children and Families.

Our Team

Caitlin Clark, MSW, LICSW
Clinical Program Manager
617-414-5983

Ingrid St. Hill, MA
Scheduling Coordinator

Bassilisa Texerira
Medical Assistant

Janette McKinnon, BSN RN
Nurse Care Manager

Carol Ann O'Connor, BSN RN
Nurse Care Manager

Karissa Giovannini, MSW LICSW
Social Work Manager
617-414-2593

Nicole J Phillips, MSW
Clinical Social Worker

Annalise Elsasser, MSW
Clinical Social Worker

Phaedra Moore, BA
Peer Recovery Specialist
617-414-2283

Nicollette Johnson, MPH
Data Manager

Patient Resources

Research Overview

Quality improvement initiative to improve inpatient outcomes for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome - Wachman EM, Grossman M, Schiff DM, et al. . J Perinatol. 2018;38(8):1114-1122. doi:10.1038/s41372-018-0109-8

Opioid addiction in pregnancy. - Shainker SA, Saia K, Lee-Parritz A.  Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2012;67(12):817-825. doi:10.1097/OGX.0b013e3182788e8c

Caring for Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder in the USA: Expanding and Improving Treatment.Saia KA, Schiff D, Wachman EM, et al.  Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep. 2016;5(3):257-263. doi:10.1007/s13669-016-0168-9

Naltrexone Treatment for Pregnant Women With Opioid Use Disorder Compared With Matched Buprenorphine Control Subjects - Wachman EM, Saia K, Miller M, et al.. Clin Ther. 2019;41(9):1681-1689. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2019.07.003

Prenatal treatment for opioid dependency: observations from a large inner-city clinic.Saia K, Bagley SM, Wachman EM, Patel PP, Nadas MD, Brogly SB.  Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2017;12(1):5. Published 2017 Jan 13. doi:10.1186/s13722-016-0070-9

Residency and Fellowship Information

Addiction Medicine Fellowship

Mission of the Grayken Fellowship in Addiction Medicine is to train physician addiction medicine leaders in clinical care, research, education, public health, and advocacy to improve addiction care for people vulnerable to health inequities due to race, ethnicity, gender, poverty, age, disability or stigmatizing illness.

The Grayken Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program is a 1 or 2 year fellowship. There is also a 3-year combined Infectious Disease-Addiction Medicine Fellowship and a 2-year Fellowship in Maternal Health Addiction. Fellows are mentored by our multidisciplinary faculty from Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease, Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Addiction Psychiatry. The Grayken Fellowship in Addiction Medicine is accredited by the ACGME. Click here to learn more

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