Modernizing ACAAM’s Governance Structure

ACAAM is implementing updates to its governance structure as part of a broader effort to ensure the organization remains focused, effective, and well positioned to advance its mission.

Over time, organizations evolve—and governance structures must evolve with them. As ACAAM’s programs, priorities, and capacity have changed, it has become clear that a more streamlined and flexible approach to committee governance will better support our work and our members.

Rich Saitz Addiction Medicine Editorial Internship

Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health: Current Evidence & American College of Academic Addiction Medicine

Applications open: July 18, 2024
Deadline for applications: August 30, 2024, Noon CT
Compensation: $2000 USD
Duration: October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 (approximately 5 hours per month)
Open to: Addiction Medicine fellows

Position Description

The Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center’s Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health: Current Evidence (AOD Health) & the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM) seek applications from addiction medicine fellows for our Rich Saitz Addiction Medicine Editorial Internship. Qualified applicants will have strong English-language writing skills and an interest in addiction medicine publishing and critical appraisal of the peer-reviewed literature. Editorial interns will be mentored by senior addiction medicine faculty to gain experience in rigorous review of the addiction medicine literature and the field of academic publishing. This experience will serve as a launching point for an addiction medicine fellow to take on future roles in editing and publishing in the field of addiction medicine. The editorial internship is directed by Dr Darius Rastegar (Johns Hopkins Medicine).

5th Annual Addiction Medicine Fellow Virtual Graduation & ACAAM Awards Recognition Event

On June 5, 2024, ACAAM hosted the 5th Annual Addiction Medicine Fellow Virtual Graduation to honor the Class of 2024. Over 200 graduates were called out by name as they crossed the virtual stage. George Koob, PhD, Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and Nora Volkow, MD, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, gave the commencement remarks. New this year, the graduation event included recognition of the 2024 ACAAM Award recipients, James F. Callahan, DPA and Richard Saitz, MD MPH FACP DFASAM (posthumously). 

Alexander Y. Walley, MD MSc, ACAAM President, welcomed everyone to ACAAM's most favorite annual event. The event began with recognition of the 2024 award recipients announced by Jeanette M. Tetrault, MD, ACAAM Immediate Past President and Awards Committee Chair. For award recipient bios and acceptance remarks, refer to the 'Highlights' section below.

Looking for something to gift your graduating fellows?

ACAAM is providing the opportunity for Program Directors and Administrators to gift their graduating fellows their ACAAM membership for the 2024-2025 renewal cycle. Please click the link below to gift a graduating fellow a Recent Fellowship Graduate Membership ($105). Select the number of memberships you would like to gift, enter the graduating fellow's contact information, and submit your payment. We'll handle the rest!

Gift A Membership Today!

The Gifting Process

• Upon receipt of your form submission and payment, ACAAM will update your graduating fellow's profile indicating membership is paid through June 30, 2025.
• The individual receives an automated email noting payment and an updated membership expiration date of June 30, 2025.
• An ACAAM team member follows up with an email to inform them of the gifted purchase.
• As part of the gifting program, ACAAM can also mail you gift cards to present to your graduate(s). This option is available through June 14, 2024. Please allow for 7-10 business days to receive the gift cards. 

A message from President Alexander Walley, MD MSc, about gifting:
"A core mission of Addiction Medicine Fellowships and ACAAM is to ensure that our graduates are equipped to become board certified and deliver high quality addiction specialty care. By gifting the graduating fellows with a new graduate ACAAM membership, our fellowship makes sure that our fellows can stay connected with fellowship programs and training. They maintain access to ACAAM's ADEPT training exam as a membership benefit which will help them prepare for their board exam, which most take in the fall after they graduate. They also can access the weekly Wednesday Didactic Series that can keep them current on core addiction medicine clinical issues. Experiencing the benefits of an individual ACAAM membership will help graduates continue as ACAAM members and help grow academic addiction medicine."

ACAAM would like to thank the more than 70 addiction medicine physicians who provided volunteer service to the organization in 2021. From service on the Board of Directors, Committees, an Task Forces, to serving as a leader of our new Recruitment Fair and other programs, these leaders served in a variety of ways and provided significant support to ACAAM as it continued its efforts to meet its mission.

As the year comes to a close, thank you for your ongoing efforts and continued support of the organization. And if you are an ACAAM member who would like to get involved in the organization, please feel free to share your interest with ACAAM staff by emailing [email protected].

Update... 

The deadline has now passed for applications to the Boston Children’s Hospital Virtual Rotation for addiction medicine fellows.

The MAHEC Addiction Medicine Fellowship is relatively new, but it’s already having an impact in rural North Carolina and beyond, according to a story on ABC-affiliate WLOS in Asheville (https://wlos.com/news/local/addiction-medicine-fellowship-program-aims-to-improve-access-to-care-in-rural-western-nc). The story features current fellow and family physician Kendrick White, MD. The MAHEC fellowship and many others are still taking applications for July 2022 fellowship positions – Read More.

With the offer period for 2022-23 fellowship positions now open, a number of fellowships are expected to continue taking applications on a rolling basis until they have filled. We will post a Recruitment Directory indicating which programs these are as soon as we receive updates from the fellowships later this week.

Read More

Fellowship candidates should be aware that 48-hour response deadlines will be the norm when the majority of programs begin making offers for 2022-23 positions on October 18 at 7:00 PM Eastern. Guidance for candidates and fellowships alike is available under the Fellowship Resource Center.

Read More