Pam Pietruszewski
Senior Trainer Consultant
Meet Pam
Pam Pietruszewski provides engaging training for teachers, counselors, and other youth‑serving professionals on topics including substance use, social media, dating and healthy relationships, and Motivational Interviewing. She also delivers interactive education on substance use prevention and mental health promotion to middle and high school students, parents, and caregivers. Pam brings wide‑ranging expertise across schools, mental health centers, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, primary care, case management, peer support, school‑based health centers, maternal health, pediatrics, and employee assistance programs.
In addition to her training work, Pam leads consulting initiatives with school districts and community partners to collaboratively develop prevention plans grounded in capacity, goals, and long‑term sustainability. Her professional background includes leadership roles as Senior Advisor and Integrated Health Consultant with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, as well as Team Director and Health Care Consultant at the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement.
Pam’s work reflects a deep commitment to supporting youth, families, and the professionals who serve them through evidence‑informed education, skill‑building, and collaborative prevention efforts.
Pam has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Psychological Services from St. Mary's University in Minnesota.
Facilitated Trainings: Motivational Interviewing; Teen Intervene; Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT); Social Media and Youth Mental Health; Safe Dates; and Substance Use Disorder 101
Key Topics: Motivational Interviewing; Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT); depression management in primary care, social media and youth mental health
Publications & Speaking Engagements
Publications: Manuel JI, DeBarros T, Baslock D, Davidson C, Halliday T, Peterson F, Pietruszewski P, Plante A, Razaa JW, Sloyer W, Stark A, Stanhope V. Applying Communication Science to Substance Use Prevention Messaging. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2025 Jan;52(1):4-18.
Manuel J, Baslock D, DeBarros T, Halliday T, Pietruszewski P, Plante A, Woods Razaa J, Sloyer W, Stanhope V. (2023) Factors Associated with Indirect Exposure to and Knowledge of Fentanyl Among Youth, J Adol Health 2024 Feb;74(2):312-319.
Soberay A, Levy S, Cheung F, Pietruszewski P, DeSorrento L, Garney S, Luce C, Bame C. (2022) Rates and predictors of substance use in pediatric primary care clinics, Substance Abuse, 43:1, 1094-1099.
Soberay A, DeSorrento L, Pietruszewski P, Sitz M, Levy S. (2021) Implementing adolescent SBIRT: Findings from the FaCES project, Substance Abuse, 42:4, 751-759.
Solberg L, Crain A, Maciosek M, Unutzer J, Ohnsorg K, Beck A, Rubenstein L, Whitebird R, Rossom R, Pietruszewski P, Crabtree B, Joslyn K, Van de Ven A, Glasgow R. (2015) A Stepped-Wedge Evaluation of an Initiative to Spread the Collaborative Care Model for Depression in Primary Care. An Fam Med. Sept;13(5):412-20.
Pietruszewski P, Mundt M, Hadzic S, Brown R. (2015) Effects of Staffing Choices on Collaborative Care for Depression at Primary Care Clinics in Minnesota. Psychiatr Serv. Jan 1;66(1):101-3.
Angstman K, Pietruszewski P, Rasmussen N, Wilkinson J, Katzelnick, D. (2012) Depression Remission After Six Months of Collaborative Care Management: Role of Initial Severity of Depression in Outcome. Mental Health Fam Med. Jun;9(2):99-106.
Speaking Engagements: Getting Candid: Framing the Conversation Around Youth Substance Use Prevention. North Dakota Health & Human Services, Prevention Professionals Statewide Meeting. 2024.
Motivational Interviewing to Enhance Youth Tobacco Cessation. Maine Tobacco Treatment and Prevention Conference. MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence. 2024.
Roundtable: Getting Candid About Youth Substance Use. National Center for Adolescent and Youth Adult Health and Wellbeing, American Academy of Pediatrics. 2024.
Trauma-Informed Motivational Interviewing for Patients and Families. Montana Healthcare Foundation Symposium. 2024.
Getting Candid: The Importance of Trust in Youth Substance Use Prevention. National School-Based Health Conference. 2023.
Framing the Conversation with Youth: Substance Use in the Wake of COVID-19. International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INEBRIA) Conference. 2023.
Getting Candid: How Elevating Youth Voice Has Led to Successful Prevention Messaging. SAMHSA Prevention Day. Washington D.C. 2023.
Boards & Affiliations
Member, Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)
Member, American Psychological Association (APA)
Member, International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INEBRIA)