Laura Palombi, PharmD, MPH, MAT

Bio

Dr. Palombi (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor on the Duluth campus. Her research, service and public health practice focus on working with rural communities and Tribal Nations to reduce substance use and to prevent opioid overdose.

Expertise

Dr. Palombi works on opioid prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction approaches with rural communities and Tribal Nations. She has experience working with funding agencies that include HRSA, SAMHSA, USDA, and Minnesota DHS.

Awards & Recognition

Pharmacy Alumni Society Mentor of the Year – 2022 The Mentor of the Year is an individual who has shown support of the mentoring program and its goals; has demonstrated a genuine interest in mentoring students; is willing to spend time in mentoring students; and has created a positive mentoring experience for students.

Academic Advisor of the Year – 2021 This award is given to an academic adviser who has gone above and beyond their requirements as an academic adviser at the University of Minnesota - Duluth. This person has displayed genuine support and concern for the well-being of the students this person advises.

National Health Outreach Culture of Health Award – 2021 The Culture of Health Award recognizes an Extension-community partnership that is taking a transformative approach to improving community health, fostering a culture of health through community-based strategies, and/or co-creating with communities to ensure relevance and reduce barriers for positive change. 

University of Minnesota Extension Dean's Distinguished Diversity and Inclusion Award – 2020 This award was bestowed upon the Extension/College of Pharmacy/community partner team for their work in opioid-related prevention, intervention and recovery efforts in Minnesota and South Dakota rural and Tribal communities, recognized as "accomplishments and innovation in achieving and sustaining diversity and inclusion efforts within the Extension organization."

President’s Community Engaged Scholar Award – 2020 The President's Community-Engaged Scholar Award is the University of Minnesota’s highest recognition for exemplary scholarship incorporating University knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility, address critical societal issues, and contribute to the public good.

Professor of the Class - 2018 University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy, Graduating Class of 2018

Duluth Professor of the Year - 2016-2017 University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Class of 2020 students, Duluth campus

President’s Civic Engagement Steward Award - 2017 Minnesota Campus Compact award given to a member of the faculty, administration, or staff that has significantly advanced their campus' distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others' civic engagement, and institutionalizing a culture and practice of engagement.

Professor of the Year – 2015-2016 University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Class of 2019 students, Duluth campus

Professor of the Year - 2014-2015 University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Class of 2018 students, Duluth campus

Professor of the Semester - Spring 2015 University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Class of 2018 students, Duluth campus

Honored Guest of the Minnesota Pharmacy Student Alliance – 2015 Minnesota Pharmacy Student Alliance (MPSA) members on the Duluth campus

Professional Associations

American Public Health Association
Minnesota Rural Health Association
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Pharmacists' Association

Research Interests

Community Based Action Research on preventing and addressing substance abuse

Research Methods/Techniques

Community-Based Participatory Action Research

Teaching

Academic Interests and Focus

Public Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction, Student Wellness, Vaccine Hesitancy, Human Trafficking, Pharmacy Practice Initiatives

Teaching Areas

Public Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction, Student Wellness

Courses

PHAR 6493: Directed Research III; Advanced Topics in Rural and Tribal Health Research (Elective); Course Director (2022);

PHAR 6700: Becoming a Pharmacist (Core); Course Director Duluth (2020-2021), Instructor (2014-2017, 2019);

PHAR 7310: Introduction to Community Health and Professional Engagement (Core); Course Director (2015-2017, 2019-2021);

PHAR 6293: Directed Research I; Introduction to Rural and Tribal Health Research (Elective); Course Director (2021);

PHAR 6393: Directed Research II; Rural and Tribal Health Research (Elective); Course Director (2021);

PHAR 6716: Applied Pharmaceutical Care (Core); Course Director Duluth (2015-2019), Instructor (2020-2022);

PHAR 6720: Pharmaceutical Care Skills Lab (Core); Instructor (2014-2022);

PHAR 6780: Pharmacy Outcomes (Core); Instructor 2017-2019;

FMED 6957: Medical Education through Diversity and Service (Elective); Course Director (2016-2018);

PHAR 6902: Foundations for Integrative Mental Health and Psychiatric Practice (Elective); Lecturer (2017);

PHAR 6762: Medicinal Chemistry and Neuropharmacology (Core); Lecturer (2017);

PHAR 6760: Professional Development and Assessment IV (Core); Course Director (2015);

PHAR 6706: Foundations of Pharmaceutical Care (Core); Lecturer (2014-2017)

www.z.umn.edu/palombi

Agency: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Total awarded amount: $1,000,000
Title: Rural Communities Opioid Response – Implementation
The project, entitled “A Partnership with the Bois Forte Tribal Nation in Opioid-Focused Prevention, Treatment and Recovery,” involves a collaborative and interagency partnership to provide evidence-based and culturally-relevant substance use prevention, intervention, recovery, and harm reduction services to the Bois Forte tribal Nation in northeastern Minnesota.
Role: Principal Investigator
Dates: 9/1/20-8/31/23;

Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA
Total awarded amount $1,100,000
Adapting To Change: A Collaborative Approach To Substance Use Prevention, Intervention, And Recovery For Minnesota Rural And Tribal Communities
Collaborative project with the University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Tribal Communities, Statewide Opioid Response (SOR) recipients, and community members focused on building recovery capital and providing in-person and online Public Health/Indigenous Wellness/Family Resiliency/Health and Nutrition/Community Leadership Education.
Role: Co-Investigator
Dates: 8/31/20-8/21/22;

Agency: Minnesota DHS
Total awarded amount: $675,000
Title: Statewide Opioid Response, Expanding Naloxone Distribution
The goal of the project is to build local coalitions, train on naloxone administration in institutions of higher education, educate and train drug court families on the use of naloxone, and increase pharmacist/prescriber engagement in naloxone prescribing and dispensing.
Role: Co-Investigator; PI of University of Minnesota Subcontract
Dates: 1/1/20-9/31/21

Agency: PEW Charitable Trust
Total awarded amount: $500,000
Title: Midwest Tribal Opioid Meta-Evaluation (MTOM)
The University of Minnesota Extension and College of Pharmacy, in partnership with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for American Indian Health Great Lakes Hub (CAIHGLH), conduct a mixed methods “meta-evaluation project” of the work done with the 2018 SAMHSA grant and 2018 and 2019 USDA Rural Health and Safety grants.
Role: Co-Investigator
Dates: 2/1/20-1/31/22;

Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Total awarded amount: $324,821
Title: Building Capacity in Rural South Dakota and Minnesota Tribal Communities: A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary and Interstate Effort to Address the Opioid Crisis
Interdisciplinary and collaborative project with the University of Minnesota Extension Services (PI) focused on building recovery capital and providing opioid-focused technical assistance in three rural, Minnesota and South Dakota tribal communities: Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe, Includes the planning of community forums, naloxone training, and expansion of the American Indian Resource and Resiliency Team
Role: Co-Investigator
Dates: 9/1/19-8/31/21;

Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Total awarded amount: $1,100,000
Title: Building Rural Capacity to Develop Positive Recovery Capital
Partnership with University of Minnesota Extension, Pine County Public Health, north St. Louis County Public Health, Itasca County Public Health, Aitkin County Public Health, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe to provide opioid-focused technical assistance to community partners and professionals living in these rural areas.
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Dates: 9/30/18-9/29/20;

Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Total awarded amount: $320,267
Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Rural Minnesota: Building Recovery Capital
Collaborative project with the University of Minnesota Extension Services (PI) focused on building recovery capital in two rural, Minnesota counties (Itasca and Aitkin). Includes the planning of community forums in Itasca and Aitkin county and the conducting of focus groups in each community, along with the creation of a community leadership cohort focused on developing local prevention projects
Role: Co-Investigator
Dates: 9/2/18-8/31/20;

Opioid Innovation Grant
Total awarded amount: $3,900
Title: Assessing Recovery Capital as a Resource for Recovery from Addition to Opioids and Other Drugs
Collaborative project with Dr. Elizabeth Bowen (Co-I) at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work examining the role of recovery capital in rural Michigan mining communities. Funding supported focus groups with individuals in short and long-term recovery from substance use disorder in Michigan’s upper peninsula.
Role: Principal Investigator
Dates: 7/1/18-6/30/19;

Agency: NIDA/NCATS
Total awarded amount: $298,963
Title: A multi-state Collaboration to enhance Naloxone Dispensing in Rural and Underserved Areas (CONsiDER)
Collaborative project with the University of New Mexico (PI) and Tufts University (Co-I) focused on engaging rural community pharmacists in multiple states to become independent naloxone prescribers.
Role: Co-Investigator; PI of University of Minnesota Subcontract
Dates: 7/1/18-3/31/19;

Agency: SAMHSA/Minnesota DHS
Total awarded amount: $675,000
Title: Statewide Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis, Category 8: Expanding Naloxone Distribution through Community Engagement
The goal of the project is to build local coalitions, train on naloxone administration in institutions of higher education, educate and train drug court families on the use of naloxone, and increase pharmacist/prescriber engagement in naloxone prescribing and dispensing.
Role: Co-Investigator; PI of University of Minnesota Subcontract
Dates: 7/1/17-4/30/19;

With community partners in Kanabec and Pine County, received a $5000 Weaver Public Engagement and Social Responsiveness Grant from the University of Minnesota to fund Community Forums and local efforts to combat heroin and opioid abuse in rural Pine County and rural Kanabec County, starting in October 2016;

With planning team, secured a grant of $1000 from the Northland Foundation to support Operation Community Connect, a resource day for the homeless in Carlton County;

With planning team, secured a grant of $250 from the Carlton County Wood City Riders to support Operation Community Connect, a resource day for the homeless in Carlton County;

With colleagues in PPPS, received a $7500 Engaged Department grant from the University of Minnesota, Office of Public Engagement to support ongoing support to Carlton County by hosting a follow-up Community Forum on Heroin and Opioid Abuse in Cloquet and a first Forum in Moose Lake;

Received a $1000 grant from Operation Round Up, through Lake Country Power, to help fund 2016 Operation Community Connect in Carlton County;

Received a grant from the University of Minnesota, CTSI Populations and Community Engagement Core, Dissemination & Implementation Award, in the amount of $4000 to fund a Community Forum on Heroin and Opioid Abuse in Carlton County in October of 2015.