I’m a nationally recognized expert in mental health, addiction, drug policy, and stigma. I’m also a physician living in long-term recovery. My lived addiction experience and medical background enable me to advocate for compassionate, science-backed public health policy in an accessible way.
As a co-founder of Elevyst, a public health consulting group, I help create groundbreaking data-driven projects to effect change. Read more about my background here.
My clients are public health and healthcare leaders, community-based organizations, government agencies, academics, and a range of criminal justice and law enforcement groups. They hire me to help them improve the lives of people with mental health and substance use disorders. Working collaboratively, we use proven, research-backed methods to make a measurable impact on community health and well-being.
Services
Education & Training
Enhance your quality of care: My custom training programs are informed by my background as a physician with lived addiction experience. Together we’ll build your team’s knowledge and develop their skills to improve traditional systems of care. I consistently deliver evidence-based, high-impact educational programming.
Curriculum Development & Evaluation
Drive measurable change: Together we’ll design an engaging curriculum that improves knowledge, changes perceptions, and leads to behavioral change. First, I address the unique challenges and objectives of your organization. Then I enlist academic partners to evaluate the impact of the curriculum by measuring attitudinal and behavior data.
Drug Policy Advocacy
Create a better world for everyone impacted by harsh drug policies: I work with local, state, and national leaders to push for effective policies and practices. We aim to expand access and eliminate barriers to evidence-based public health strategies. Join us in honoring the health, dignity, and human rights of people who use drugs, have substance use disorders, or are in recovery.
Impactful Research in Drug Policy & Practices
Use data to inform evidence-based policies and practices: I seek out stakeholders who are passionate about applied research that leads to organizational and societal change. We conduct research projects on substance use, recovery, harm reduction, and stigma. For example, we study the impact of perceived substance use and recovery stigma.
Clients
Press
Washington Post, “Overdose prevention centers are tough sell in U.S. despite successes”
Filter, “Ending the X-Waiver Doesn’t End OUD-Meds Stigma in Health Care”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Sean Fogler and William Stauffer: How to help people who use drugs stop”
Delaware Valley Journal, “Saving PA hospitals critical for health of people who use drugs, our communities”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Sean Fogler: Helping the most vulnerable among us”
Testimonials
“Sincere. Compassionate. Dedicated. Driven. These are the words that first come to mind when I think about Sean. He has worked tirelessly to advocate for those with substance use disorders and harm reduction efforts. Sean successfully shares his personal experiences with a wide range of audiences and keeps them engaged with a good mix of anecdotal and evidence-based information. He’s full of ideas and willing to collaborate to get the best outcomes. And, he puts in the work to stay up-to-date in his field.
I’m happy to work with Sean through his efforts with the PA Sheriffs’ Association to build bridges between law enforcement and treatment professionals.”
“I have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with Sean Fogler MD on a complex project, he is hard working and insightful. He brings a lot to the table.”
What participants say about Sean’s training programs:
“The program opened my eyes to dropping stigma and keeping an open mind to substance use disorder and finding ways to help.”
“The presenters are all amazing and knowledgeable. I stayed engaged and interested the entire time.”
“There was a lot of information that I was unaware of or that was newly updated. The statistics on harm reduction were mind-blowing!”
“It was great to learn the different aspects of substance use disorder and ways to combat it. So much information is pushed, and it’s hard to sift through the truth.”
About Sean
Sean Fogler, MD, is a social entrepreneur and nationally recognized expert in mental health, addiction, drug policy, and stigma. He is a co-founder of Elevyst, a public health consulting group, and a public health security consultant for several private and governmental organizations.
Sean is also a physician living in long-term recovery. He draws on this lived experience to advocate for compassionate, science-backed public health policy in an accessible way.
Exploring the intersection of drug policy, public health, and human rights, Sean’s work aims to protect the dignity and human rights of people living with mental health challenges and substance use disorders, and people in recovery. He partners mainly with public health and healthcare leaders, community-based organizations, and law enforcement officials.
Sean’s writing and speaking engagements educate and inform, reduce stigma, push to improve US drug policy, and promote research-backed public health solutions. He seeks to remove the barriers that prevent people from living self-directed and connected lives, and support the overall health and well-being of individuals and communities.
Sean’s latest research initiative explores the impact of stigma—a growing public health crisis fueling unprecedented rates of addiction and overdose in America.