Robert Sterling, PhD: Pharmacology and Physiology

Robert Sterling, PhD

Professor; Co-director, Interdisciplinary and Career-Oriented Programs; Director, Graduate Programs in Clinical Research

Department: Pharmacology & Physiology

Research &
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Background
Media/Publications/
Presentations

Education

PhD, Applied Psychology, Hofstra University (1988)
MS, Applied Psychology, Hofstra University (1983)
BA, Psychology, Hofstra University (1981)

Awards & Honors

Faculty Mentoring Award, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University (2017)
Mayor’s Commission Making a Difference Award (2016)
Community Service Award for Applied Addiction Research, Caron Foundation (2003)

Dr. Robert C. Sterling is the co-director of the Division of Interdisciplinary and Career-Oriented Programs and the director of Graduate Programs in Clinical Research at ��Vlog. He has over thirty-five years of practical experience conducting research and publishing findings from community-based substance abuse-related research studies. He previously directed Thomas Jefferson University’s Division of Substance Abuse Programs, and he conducted applied research across a variety of clinical settings and populations. His most recent research examined psychosocial factors associated with accessing the substance use disorder treatment system and mechanisms for improving medical student training in substance use disorders. In his current role at Drexel, Dr. Sterling directs interdisciplinary master’s and certificate programs in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies.

Research Interests

Substance use disorders, opioid use disorder, applied psychology, clinical research education

Research

Dr. Sterling’s work has redefined addiction treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) amidst the opioid epidemic and challenged the healthcare system to improve patient outcomes and reduce relapse rates. Historically, managing OUD in hospital and outpatient settings has been inconsistent, with high readmission and low engagement rates due to limited standardized care practices. Dr. Sterling’s research focused on addressing these issues through innovative models and guidelines.

Dr. Sterling’s work implemented evidence-based withdrawal management guidelines and gauged their effects on treatment outcomes, focusing on OUD medications in hospital settings and hospital readmissions (Zavodnick et al., 2023; McFadden et al., 2022). He also evaluated pay-for-performance models in addiction care, demonstrating that financial incentives can improve adherence to agonist therapy for OUD (Loscalzo et al., 2021; Loscalzo & Sterling, 2020). Additionally, his research identified factors that discourage treatment engagement (Jaremko et al., 2015) and studied mechanisms of efficacy in drug treatment programs (Petry et al., 2005; Sterling et al., 2001; Sterling et al., 1997; Gotheil et al., 1995). His other interests include the role of spirituality in alcohol treatment and relapse (Sterling et al., 2007; Sterling et al., 2008).

Dr. Sterling’s work has influenced addiction treatment to adopt structured guidelines and incentive models, which directly benefits healthcare providers by offering more effective tools to reduce relapse and retain patients. His work has provided actionable insights into addiction management strategies with applications for care systems and direct clinical practice.

Publications

“The interaction of race and age in methadone treatment retention outcomes: A single-center analysis”
Alexander K, Reed MK, Sterling RC
Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment. 2023 May:148:209020. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209020. PMID: 36933661

“Medication initiation, patient-directed discharges, and hospital readmissions before and after implementing guidelines for opioid withdrawal management”
Zavodnick J, Heinsinger NM, Lepore A, Sterling RC
Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2023 Jan-Feb;17(1):e57-e63. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001053. PMID: 36001053

“OUD withdrawal in a hospital setting: guideline for care and implementation disparities”
McFadden KM, Sterling RC, Zavodnick J
Annals of Behavioral Medicine (Vol. 56, No. SUPP 1, pp. S415-S415)

“Pay for performance and treatment outcome in agonist treatment for opioid use disorder”
Loscalzo E, Levit A, Sterling RC, Weinstein SP
American Journal on Addictions. 2021 Mar;30(2):173-178. doi: 10.1111/ajad.13113. PMID: 33002304

“Alcohol and other drug use in older adults: Results from a community needs assessment”
Loscalzo E, Sterling RC, Weinstein SP, Salzman B
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. 2017 Dec;29(6):1149-1155. doi: 10.1007/s40520-016-0718-z. PMID: 28181205

Additional publications...

“Psychological and physiological stress negatively impacts early engagement and retention of opioid-dependent individuals on methadone maintenance”
Jaremko KM, Sterling RC, Van Bockstaele EJ
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 2015 Jan;48(1):117-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.08.006. PMID: 25239858

“Impact of cannabis use during stabilization on methadone maintenance treatment”
Scavone J, Sterling RC, Weinstein S, Van Bockstaele E
American Journal on Addictions. 2013 Jul-Aug;22(4):344-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2013.12044.x. PMID: 23795873

“Using buprenorphine to treat opioid dependent university students: opportunities, successes, and challenges”
DeMaria P, Sterling R, Risler R, Frank J
Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2010 Dec;4(4):236-42. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0b013e3181cf2050. PMID: 21769042

“Measuring recovery capital in an alcohol dependent sample”
Sterling R, Slusher C, Weinstein S
American Journal on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2008;34(5):603-10. doi: 10.1080/00952990802308114. PMID: 18821453

“A retrospective case control study of alcohol relapse and spiritual growth”
Sterling RC, Weinstein S, Losardo D, Raively K, Hill P, Petrone A, Gottheil E
American Journal on Addictions. 2007 Jan-Feb;16(1):56-61. doi: 10.1080/10550490601080092. PMID: 17364423

“Levels of spirituality and treatment outcome: a preliminary examination”
Sterling RC, Weinstein S, Hill P, Gottheil E, Gordon SM, Shorie K
Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 2006 Jul;67(4):600-6. doi: 10.15288/jsa.2006.67.600. PMID: 16736080

“Inpatient desire to drink as a predictor of relapse to alcohol use following treatment”
Gordon SM, Sterling R, Siatkowski C, Raively K, Weinstein S, Hill PC
American Journal on Addictions. 2006 May-Jun;15(3):242-5. doi: 10.1080/10550490600626556. PMID: 16923671

“Effect of prize-based incentives on outcomes in stimulant abusers in outpatient psychosocial treatment programs: a national drug abuse treatment clinical trials network study”
Petry NM, Peirce JM, Stitzer ML, Blaine J, Roll JM, Cohen A, Obert J, Killeen T, Saladin ME, Cowell M, Kirby KC, Sterling R, Royer-Malvestuto C, Hamilton J, Booth RE, Macdonald M, Liebert M, Rader L, Burns R, DiMaria J, Copersino M, Stabile PQ, Kolodner K, Li R
Archives of General Psychiatry. 2005 Oct;62(10):1148-56. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.10.1148. PMID: 16203960

“Gender differences in cue exposure reactivity and 9-month outcome”
Sterling RC, Dean J, Weinstein SP, Murphy J, Gottheil E
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 2004 Jul;27(1):39-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2004.03.008. PMID: 15223092

“Correlates of employment: A cohort study”
Sterling RC, Gottheil E, Glassman SD, Weinstein SP, Serota RD, Lundy A
American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2001 Feb;27(1):137-46. doi: 10.1081/ada-100103123. PMID: 11373031

“The effect of therapist/patient race and sex matching in individual treatment”
Sterling RC, Gottheil E, Weinstein SP, Serota R
Addiction. 2001 Jul;96(7):1015-22. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.967101511.x. PMID: 11440612

“Patient treatment choice and compliance: data from a substance abuse treatment program”
Sterling RC, Gottheil E, Glassman SD, Weinstein SP, Serota RD
American Journal on Addictions. 1997 Spring;6(2):168-76. PMID: 9134079

“Generalizing from controlled treatment outcome studies: Sample data from a cocaine treatment program”
Gottheil E, Sterling RC, Weinstein SP
American Journal on Addictions. 1995. 4, 331-338

Contact Information

rcs336@drexel.edu

College of Medicine Graduate Programs
60 N. 36th Street
Health Sciences Bldg.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

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