By April Hopcroft, Public Health Intern, NaRCAD

An interview with Amy McWeeney, Public Health Detailing Specialist, New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services

Tags: Stigma, ​Hepatitis C

April: Hi Amy, and thanks for joining DETAILS today! I know you have quite an interesting professional path that brought you to the field of detailing. Could you tell me a little bit about your background and how you came to this work?
 
Amy: Absolutely. My profession is as a physical therapist - including as a clinician, director of rehab, a professor of PT, and a department chair. When the college I was teaching at closed due to COVID-19, I came across a vacant position in public health and started working for the State of New Hampshire in the Ryan White Program.
 
About a year later, an infectious disease Public Health Detailing Specialist position opened and I applied. The role of the Detailing Specialist is to collaboratively develop educational materials on infectious disease for healthcare professionals and provide in-person or virtual meetings to share these materials while identifying barriers to screening, diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment.
 
This role seemed to match all the things I enjoy - as it offers opportunities to expand on my clinical, teaching, interpersonal, and networking skills. I remember thinking, “This sounds fabulous.” I’m now entering my fifth year at the state, and my fourth year in the Detailing Specialist role.
 
April: I can really sense your passion for building relationships and sharing knowledge with healthcare professionals. I first came across your work during an internship at New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services on viral hepatitis. I know at that time you were providing hepatitis C detailing visits and using comprehensive tools in a packet called an action kit. Could you share what an action kit is and what prompted you to focus on hepatitis C?
 
Amy: An action kit is essentially a toolkit of curated resources and best practices for healthcare professionals on a specific topic, such as viral hepatitis or sexually transmitted infections.
 
The hepatitis C action kit was very collaborative, which was different from our typical detailing projects. It came out of an identified need during a conversation with our Viral Hepatitis Program Coordinator, and we also had external development and printing support from a contracted consulting group. It’s encouraging to think about past success stories and to think about what can be achieved with partners and collaboration.

April: That’s inspiring to think about all we can achieve through collaboration. Could you walk me through the process of developing the hepatitis C action kit and the key messages you chose to include?
 
Amy: For this kit, we were lucky to have an internal Subject Matter Expert (SME) - the Viral Hepatitis Program Coordinator. The challenge was the SME had a wealth of knowledge and wanted to share it all. When you’re detailing, you can only focus on one to three key points - otherwise, you lose people during the conversation.
 
It’s a demanding time for healthcare professionals and staying up to date can be incredibly difficult. There’s a widely cited study showing it takes 17 years for medical research to be incorporated into practice after it’s published in journals. Given this reality, the challenge was deciding what the providers truly needed to know and narrowing down to a few key priority points which provided the most meaningful and actionable information.
 
Our main points were related to the CDC guideline recommending every adult be tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime, since this was new information. I also wanted to highlight that sobriety is not required for a person to get hepatitis C treatment.
 
April: Prioritization is such a key part of detailing, especially since you often have limited time with healthcare professionals. Can you share a story you use depicting the potential impact of the education you provide?
 
Amy: Absolutely – I have a story I often share in my hepatitis C detailing visits that reflects the sobriety piece I mentioned previously. It’s about a patient who was living with HIV and was later diagnosed with hepatitis C. Unfortunately, their healthcare professional didn't offer hepatitis C treatment because the patient wasn't sober, and six months later, the patient passed away from hepatitis C. This is devastating given hepatitis C is curable.
 
It was important to me to share this story and reinforce people don't need to be sober to get treatment. They can get treatment, they should get treatment, and they deserve treatment.
 
April: What a powerful story – I know it will continue to resonate with me as an example of the types of gaps detailing seeks to fill. While this story is certainly discouraging, I’m energized by your commitment to countering these misconceptions and addressing all the different barriers that can prevent patients from getting the care they need. In that vein, I saw that you also included a lot of patient-facing cost resources in the hepatitis C action kit. What motivated you to include those?
 
Amy: I have always felt I’m sharing all this great clinical information, but what good is it if patients can't pay for their medication? I think a lot about how to “close the loop” so people can access care and treatment. That’s the end goal. 

​April: I love that you’re always thinking about “closing the loop” to ensure everyone has the full assistance they need to access care, whether via commercial patient-assistance programs, medication assistance funds, or other cost-sharing programs. I know you’ve included these financial resources in other action kits, too, such as the Tuberculosis action kit. I hope this will inspire other detailers to consider how they can “close the loop” for patients.
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Let’s now turn to impact – can you share any findings on the outcomes of your detailing work?
 
Amy: Sure! Our Viral Hepatitis Epidemiologist analyzed the effect of detailing on formal reports of hepatitis C cases by healthcare professionals to the state. For context, hepatitis C is a reportable condition in New Hampshire, meaning healthcare professionals are required to report any cases within 72 hours of a new diagnosis. She found a significant increase in provider reports in the six months after we started detailing on hepatitis C, compared to the previous six months. This has broader implications for public health, such as developing rapport with local healthcare systems through detailing which may improve disease reporting.
 
April: Wow – that’s so neat the Viral Hepatitis Epi was able to analyze the impact of your detailing efforts. Let’s wrap up with a story from the field. Can you share an anecdote where you helped a clinician overcome a barrier to hepatitis C treatment?
 
Amy: Detailing is about creating strong relationships and developing trust with healthcare professionals. Often, barriers only become visible when you have open, honest conversations.
 
I remember one meeting with a pharmacy director about hepatitis C treatment. As we walked through the process of getting patients their medications, we realized she was completing extra insurance steps that weren’t needed. Those insurance requests were often denied, causing unnecessary delays.
 
To be able to say, “Okay, there's this simple, small thing we can do to fix this - you were doing these extra steps, and we can actually get rid of those” was so satisfying – not just for me, but for the clinician and, most importantly, for the patients. Thanks to this one educational moment, hundreds of people are now going to get the care they need.
 
Other times in my detailing sessions, I’ve met healthcare professionals who thought they needed to “watch and wait” for six months to see if acute hepatitis C would resolve on its own before starting patients on treatment. I made sure they knew treatment can start right away for anyone with an acute infection.
 
Seeing the ripple effect of these small changes is incredibly rewarding. I love this job because you get to see the positive impact on the community firsthand.
 
April: That’s great to have so many stories showing the impact of your detailing program. We’re looking forward to following the additional action kits you’re developing around tick-borne disease and sexually transmitted infections. Thanks for chatting with us today and sharing your experiences and passion, Amy!

Have thoughts on our DETAILS Blog posts? Leave a comment!  

Biography. Amy is a Public Health Detailing Specialist for the State of NH. In this role, she provides education to healthcare providers throughout the state around infectious disease. Amy researches, meets with subject matter experts, and creates materials for the detailing sessions. As a Physical Therapist for close to thirty years, she has had a robust career. Clinically, she has treated patients in a variety of environments, including outpatient with aquatics, inpatient rehabilitation, and geriatric care. Her leadership roles have included being a Director of Rehabilitation, Manager for Home Care & Hospice, a college Professor, and a college Department Chair teaching others physical therapy. Amy recently found a passion for Public Health in the Ryan White Care Program and was then promoted to her current role. 

Host: Anna Morgan-Barsamian, MPH, RN, PMP, Senior Manager, Training & Education, NaRCAD

A conversation with Brandon Mizroch, MD, MBBS, President & Founder, BrandaCorp Public Health Consulting

Tag: Podcast Series, Hepatitis C

What if curing a chronic disease was simpler than we thought?

Come chat with us as we explore how Louisiana’s bold approach to hepatitis C helped shift clinician perspectives, reduce stigma, and expand access to life-saving treatment.

From powerful patient stories to practical tools that made care feel doable, this discussion highlights how leading with hope, simplicity, and connection can drive meaningful change. Tune in to hear how one initiative helped cure nearly 20,000 people—and what others can learn from it.
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If you would like to connect with Brandon about his hepatitis C work or public health detailing more broadly, feel free to reach out to him at [email protected].
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Click here for the audio transcription.


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"All of the other reportable infectious conditions combined weren't having as much of an impact as hepatitis C was having on our communities."
-Brandon Mizroch, MD, MBBS
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Biography. Brandon attended medical school at the University of Queensland/Ochsner Health System joint degree program. After medical school he pivoted to work in public health with the Louisiana Department of Health where he spent the next six years overseeing the academic detailing program for the Office of STDs/HIV/HCV. After working with physicians all over the state of Louisiana focused on topics such as PrEP, PEP, syphilis prevention and treatment, and other infectious diseases, the office created the nation’s first state-level HCV elimination project.

He helped create the education program that trained over 800 clinicians in delivering HCV care, resulting in curing over 12,000 people living with HCV. In 2022 Brandon moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to oversee the academic detailing program for the Utah AIDS Education & Training Center where he worked to continue their mission of improving the health of Utah’s most vulnerable members. In 2025 he started his own Public Health Consulting Company in Washington DC to continue this work with jurisdictions around the country.
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An interview with Brandon Mizroch, MD, MBBS, Provider Network Supervisor, Louisiana Department of Health 
​by Anna Morgan, RN, BSN, MPH, NaRCAD Program Manager

​Tags: Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, PrEP, Rural AD Programs, Sexual Health, Stigma, Training

​NaRCAD: Thanks for chatting with us today, Brandon! We’re excited to be catching up with you.  Can you tell us about your program at the Louisiana Department of Health and the work you’re currently doing?​
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Brandon: Absolutely. I was hired to do work around PrEP and PEP, detailing providers across the state of Louisiana, in 2017.  Since then, my role has expanded and I promote education for providers about syphilis, congenital syphilis, and Hepatitis C.  Our department now has 3 detailers, including myself. 
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Louisiana became the first state in the country to undergo an incredibly revolutionary Hepatitis C Elimination Plan, which has caused my detailing focus to shift.  There’s been huge advancements in the drugs that treat Hepatitis C, but they’ve been inaccessible to much of the population due to cost.  We negotiated a fixed rate price for Hepatitis C treatment and can now treat 100% of the population, compared to the 3% of the population we could treat previously.  There’s been a big push to identify and train providers who’ve never previously treated patients with Hepatitis C. I’ve been leading the charge by getting the word out, running symposiums, and working with the marketing team that’s creating our statewide campaign.  

NaRCAD: ​Wow, that sounds like innovative and exciting work. Can you explain your program’s approach  a bit more?

Brandon: I try to blend a few different approaches together.  I attended the NaRCAD training during my first year as a detailer.  NaRCAD built the foundation of detailing for me. I always use the NaRCAD methodology to get my foot in the door and identify providers who can be champions within their practices.  I find it much easier to follow up and do longer didactic sessions about complex clinical topics when I use the techniques of academic detailing during my first face-to-face visits with providers.
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I connect with about 20 providers in this 1:1 model each month.  I also work with residency programs, hospital systems, and present at Grand Rounds to expand my reach.  There’ve even been instances where I’ve attended dinners for physicians that are hosted by pharmaceutical companies to network and identify new clinics that would benefit from detailing. 

​NaRCAD: ​We’re happy to see that you’re blending academic detailing with other approaches.  Do you provide follow-up to providers after your visits?
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Brandon: Follow-up is incredibly important, no matter what approach is being used.  I like to send an email after each visit that includes digital resources for both providers and patients.  I also offer providers the ability to call, text, or email me because of the apprehension that exists around topics where the knowledge base is still growing.  Maintaining relationships with providers also ensures that we have a strong provider network that we can continue to educate on other clinical topics down the road.

NaRCAD: ​Building a connection with providers is imperative, especially as you move into different clinical topics.  Your program spans the entire state.  Do you find that there’s a difference when you provide clinical outreach education in rural vs. urban communities?
​
Brandon: Yes, there’s certainly a difference.  The providers in urban areas tend to have a higher knowledge base when it comes to PrEP and syphilis, perhaps due to marketing efforts or higher patient loads.  This makes starting the conversation a bit easier.  Additionally, urban communities have access to navigators, who help with non-medical aspects, like transportation issues, lack of health insurance, and long commute times that all prevent folks from getting the treatment they need.  Providers in urban areas are also busier and easily distracted during 1:1 visits, which can make detailing a bit difficult. 


On the other hand, rural communities are quite the opposite. Providers tend to have more time in their schedules and are excited to sit down with somebody from the state office.  They’re eager to learn, but there’s typically less of a knowledge base, making it slightly more difficult to start the conversation. 
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I’ve also learned about patient barriers as well, which affect access and provider care. Patients in rural areas are often friends or family with those throughout the community, including those who work at clinics.  The notion that you would know the receptionist or provider at a clinic is enough to deter folks from seeking medical care around a topic like sexual health.  To encourage access, our state has created a TelePrEP program that offers PrEP services to anyone via telemedicine.  Consultations take place over the phone, labs are obtained at third party lab companies, and medications are mailed right to the front doors of patients.  It was originally created to help folks in rural communities who face stigma-related barriers, but we’ve expanded the program across the entire state of Louisiana.  It’s a great referral service that I can share with providers.

NaRCAD: ​It’s wonderful that you’re able to identify these challenges and have resources and tools to address them. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to folks who are detailing on a similar clinical topic or have a large geographical region to cover?

​Brandon: It’s important to have several different ways of presenting information to the providers you’re detailing and to use varied approaches depending on the barrier(s) they’re facing.  I typically focus on emotional connection, financial concerns, and the evidence and science behind the key messages I’m delivering.  I’m also ready for provider resistance, and am prepared to address it, which is something I learned from NaRCAD.
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When it comes to detailing over a large and diverse geography, it’s always necessary to plan ahead.  My general rule of thumb is that however many hours it takes to drive to a location, that’s how many providers I want to meet with while I’m there.  I typically try to use larger educational events, like meetings with clinics over lunch, as my anchor point for longer trips.  After I have that scheduled, I search for smaller clinics around the area where I can meet with providers 1:1.  It’s all about maximizing your time.

Biography.
Brandon Mizroch received his MD/MBBS from the University of Queensland/Ochsner Clinical School Program in November of 2016. Since taking over as the PEP/PrEP Provider Outreach Specialist at the Louisiana Department of Health in August, 2017, he has worked with hundreds of doctors statewide on HIV prevention best practice. Since then he has expanded his educational base and now serves as the head of the academic detailing department at the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, STD/HIV/Hepatitis program. As the Provider Network Supervisor he has helped lead the provider Outreach for the state’s first-in-the-nation Hepatitis C Elimination program. From grand rounds presentations at LSU-Shreveport Hospital and Baton Rouge General, to state-wide symposia and conferences, to one-on-one counseling encounters at dozens of clinics all over Louisiana, he has helped spread awareness and education on HIV prevention, syphilis screening and treatment, and HCV screening and treatment through evidence-based care.