Dr. Juan Hincapie-Castillo advocates for empathy and safety in pharmaceutical policies

What’s your role in public health?

I call myself an advocate for evidence-based policymaking. I use my research to inform public health policies, and I mostly evaluate pharmaceutical policies. My background as a pharmacist and my research interests have also led me into the area of pain management and opioid use. I started teaching at the Gillings School in August 2021.

I see myself as trying to inform the best policymaking that prevents harm. A lot of my focus is on advocacy and translating my research to prevent harm to patients who need opioids to work and maintain their quality of life.

Can you describe your focus area in one sentence?

I use real-world data to inform pharmaceutical health policies that prevent harm.

What brought you to public health?

My interest in pain management brought me to the public health space. Pain is a universal human experience, but it’s not researched very often. I decided that I wanted to have a population health angle to my pharmacy degree.

There are a lot of pharmaceutical policies and procedures in place right now that are creating barriers to legal opioid access. The stigma on substance use is being applied to patients with very real pain, and you have algorithms that might flag a person seeking to fill opioid prescriptions to a pharmacy, to prescribers and to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The DEA also tracks high prescribers, which is difficult if you are a doctor who takes care of patients with conditions that are pharmacologically dependent on opioids.

This situation is different than a substance use disorder, but patients are being treated equally through existing policies. A lot of the work right now is approaching the issue from different angles — through federal, state and local policies that reduce harm.

How have you pivoted in response to the coronavirus pandemic?

I’ve been able to involve more people in my research because it doesn’t require a lab or dedicated space so long as you have computer and internet access.

Overdoses did increase during the pandemic, but they were mostly driven by illicit substances. Some of the changes with telehealth have really helped patients with pain. Telehealth accommodated some of their care, so they didn’t have to go to their prescriber to get a prescription refill.

Telehealth helped some patients get opioid use disorder medication like buprenorphine, but now we’re reverting to processes from before pandemic. It’s hard to tell what the future will look like.

Who are you when you’re at home?

I have a husband and two brindle dogs, Marley and Bella. I am originally from Colombia, so I visit there when I can.

I like running and being outside. I’m an ultra runner, and I enjoy rock climbing. I also love books — everything from psychological thrillers to nonfiction leadership development.