Recognizing Excellence in Academic Addiction Medicine

ACAAM Members: There’s still time to submit your nominations for the 2025 ACAAM Awards! This year, we are excited to introduce two new honors alongside the distinguished Kevin B. Kunz Award:

• (NEW) The Spark Award: Celebrates a recent Addiction Medicine Fellowship graduate who demonstrates leadership and advances ACAAM’s mission through education and professional work.
• (NEW) The Blaze Award: Honors a member whose career has been dedicated to education, inspiring leadership, and promoting academic excellence in addiction medicine while embodying ACAAM’s mission and values.
• The Kevin B. Kunz Award: Recognizes extraordinary contributions to academic addiction medicine—through medical education, clinical care, research, or policy. The awardee will also have the opportunity to share an acceptance speech at the Virtual ACAAM Awards Recognition Event on June 3, 2026,

All awardees will be recognized during the Awards event in 2026. Submit your nominations by October 7, 2025, and help us spotlight the outstanding leaders in our community!

Submit Your 2025 Nominations

Honoring Courage, Advancing Care: Join ACAAM This Recovery Awareness Month

This September, communities nationwide honor Recovery Awareness Month—a time to celebrate individuals in recovery and the communities that support them. At ACAAM, we’re investing in the next generation of addiction medicine leaders through education, advocacy, and equity-driven programs.

You can help shape the future of compassionate, evidence-based care: 

Spark Conversations & Inspire Future Fellows

Are you attending a conference outside of addiction medicine? ACAAM has a simple, eye-catching way to help our members spread the word about fellowship training: free “Ask me about Addiction Medicine Fellowship Training” buttons!

When you request your button, you’ll also receive:

ACAAM Members: Access Free Career Development Sessions

ACAAM is here to support your professional journey at every stage. Our Career Development Sessions offer ten on-demand, learning opportunities, exclusive to ACAAM members. Designed to enhance your faculty expertise and advance your career, these sessions feature expert guidance on high-impact topics, including:

• The ASAM Criteria – Key principles for patient-centered substance use treatment
• Transformative Change – Leading with purpose in addiction medicine
• Contract and Salary Negotiation – Strategies to get the offer you deserve
• Decoding the ACGME Alphabet Soup of Running a Fellowship – Simplifying program requirements
• Advocating on Behalf of Your Patients – Making a difference locally and nationally

And much more!

Collaborating for Better Patient Outcomes

At ACAAM, we believe collaboration fuels innovation in addiction medicine. By partnering with leading organizations, publications, and trusted voices in the field, we expand educational opportunities, share expertise, and elevate the practice of addiction medicine. Explore our partnerships below and see how together we’re shaping the future of addiction care!

• The Curbsiders Addiction Medicine Podcast (Curbsiders)
• American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP)
• Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health (AOD)
• American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
• CAMC Institute
• The Governor's Institute
• NIAAA - Healthcare Professional's Core Resource on Alcohol
• Professionals Health Network (PHN)

Explore our Partnerships

New CDC and NIDA Tools to Advance Overdose Prevention & Youth Substance Use Awareness

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently shared several important resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that can support awareness, education, and prevention efforts across our communities.

• National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day – August 21: This annual day of recognition honors lives lost to fentanyl and raise awareness of the dangers of illegally made fentanyl. The 2025 theme—hope and mental health—underscores the role of reducing stigma, raising awareness, and fostering healing. Despite a recent decline in overdose deaths, fentanyl continues to drive the overdose crisis. Access CDC’s public toolkit for key messages, social media content, and other outreach resources here. For additional informational on fentanyl, see NIDA's page here.

Sign Up for ACAAM News and Opportunities

Interested in academic addiction medicine? Fill out ACAAM’s interest form to join our mailing list and receive updates about upcoming opportunities, board prep resources, and more.

This is a great way to stay in the know—even if you’re not a member (yet!).

RAMS Program Applications Due September 5th

The Research in Addiction Medicine Scholars (RAMS) Program is now recruiting its 14th cohort of fellows in Addiction Medicine and Addiction Psychiatry. This prestigious, NIDA-funded, two-year program supports fellows who are planning to incorporate academic research into their careers.

Open to those currently in an Addiction Medicine or Addiction Psychiatry fellowship, RAMS provides specialized training, funding, and mentorship to help early-career physicians gain the skills and support needed to pursue impactful research in the field.

Your Trusted Tool for ABPM Board Prep and Knowledge Enhancement in Addiction Medicine

From 2022–2025, 84% of surveyed users said they were satisfied with the ACAAM Question Bank and would recommend it to peers preparing for the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) Addiction Medicine exam (exam registration is open through September 12!)

Featuring 186 evidence-based questions, explanations, and flexible study modes, this tool helps you:

Advocate for the Future of Addiction Medicine in Washington, D.C.

Join ASAM for the 2025 Addiction Medicine Advocacy Conference, taking place September 15–16, 2025 in Washington, D.C. This two-day, in-person event offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of addiction medicine policy alongside fellow advocates from across the country.

As part of the conference, you'll take part in scheduled meetings with federal lawmakers and congressional staff, bringing visibility to the most pressing issues facing addiction medicine today—workforce needs, access to care, research, and more. Your voice can help drive real change.

Relive the 2024-2025 ACAAM Graduation and Awards Celebration

Join us in honoring the remarkable achievements of this year’s graduating fellows and distinguished award recipients! Our June 4th virtual event featured inspiring messages from ACAAM leadership, heartfelt tributes to this year’s honorees, and a celebratory graduation procession for the class of 2024–2025.

Missed the live event or want to experience it again? Watch the full celebration on demand and applaud the next generation of addiction medicine leaders.

Watch the Graduation Video

ACAAM Reaffirms Its Commitment to AR/DEI with Updated 2025 Action Plan

In a powerful message from Joseph Valdez, MD MPH FASAM, Chair of ACAAM’s Anti-Racism/DEI Committee, ACAAM reaffirms its unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential to academic excellence and compassionate addiction care. The updated 2025 DEI Action Plan reflects a strategic shift toward sustainable, system-wide change, with a focus on harm reduction, destigmatization, and inclusive medical education.

Learn how ACAAM is supporting programs and driving progress across the field.

Read the Full Statement from Dr. Valdez

Stay Tuned: Upcoming Episode Launching June 13th

The Curbsiders Addiction Medicine Podcast is back with Season 4, launching a brand-new episode on June 13! This  series features leading voices in addiction medicine, offering practice-changing knowledge to support clinicians, trainees, and especially incoming addiction medicine fellows.

The podcast brings expert interviews that break down complex addiction topics, tackle stigma, and provide actionable strategies for integrating evidence-based treatment and harm reduction into everyday practice.

Explore Fellowship Training, Subspecialty Insights, and Expert Career Guidance

If you couldn’t attend the live 2025 Addiction Medicine Specialty Showcase, now’s your chance to catch up! This engaging virtual event features expert-led discussions on addiction medicine fellowships, subspecialty training opportunities, and the wide range of career paths available in the field.

Hear directly from ACAAM President Dr. Alexander Y. Walley and Vice President for Medical and Academic Affairs Dr. Tim Brennan as they share insights and answer real-world questions from attendees. Whether you're a student, resident, or practicing physician, this session offers the guidance and inspiration to help you take the next step in your career.

Watch the Recording

A free, members-only space to collaborate, ask questions, and engage with the latest in addiction medicine education and advocacy

The ACAAM Online Community is your go-to space to connect with peers, share ideas, and get answers to the real-world questions that come up in your work. Whether you're seeking guidance on supervision and billing practices, curious about match cycle eligibility pathways, or interested in sharing an impactful article or resource, the community is built for meaningful interaction with like-minded professionals. It's an easy, effective way to grow your network and stay informed in addiction medicine!

Right now, members are engaging on everything from sign-on opportunities to defend addiction science and preserve federal funding, to discussions around ACGME-I recognition and clinical supervision standards. If you're an ACAAM member, you're already eligible to join, simply log in, create your profile if you haven't done so, and jump into the conversation. Collaboration is just a click away.

Learn More

Explore What's Ahead in Academic Addiction Medicine

ACAAM is excited to share that our Calendar of Events is now available through June 2026, providing our community with even more time to plan, engage, and grow. Whether you’re looking for networking opportunities, didactic sessions, or important deadlines, our calendar brings it all together in one place.

Staying connected to the ACAAM community is key to advancing your career in academic addiction medicine. From virtual learning sessions to specialty programming and events that support AR/DEI, our calendar reflects our commitment to preparing the next generation of addiction medicine leaders.

Explore the Calendar of Events

Empower Your Graduating Fellows: Gift an ACAAM Membership

Attention Program Directors and Administrators: Empower your graduating fellows with an ACAAM Recent Fellowship Program Graduate Membership! As they step into the professional world, give them the advantage of joining a vibrant community of academic addiction medicine peers and mentors. Benefits of members for recent fellowship graduates include:

• Eligibility to join a committee and/or the Board of Directors,
• Free access to the Addiction e-Practice Test (ADePT) and didactic recordings, and discounted access to the ACAAM Question Bank, each an essential tool to prepare for the ABPM certification exam,
• Access to the online ACAAM Community and a network of academic addiction physicians,
• New faculty development sessions (virtual and recorded), and
• Weekly ACAAM National Addiction Medicine Didactic Curriculum live, virtual meetings and recordings.

Give the gift of ACAAM today by purchasing a membership for your graduating fellow(s). All you need to do is complete the form and submit payment. We'll handle the rest!

Supporting Addiction Medicine Leaders

We’re expanding the conversation! ACAAM is now on Bluesky, your new space to connect, collaborate, and stay informed. Follow us for the latest news, upcoming events, career opportunities, and community discussions in academic addiction medicine.

Strengthening Our Community, Expanding Opportunities, and Supporting the Future of Addiction Medicine

ACAAM remains' steadfast in our mission to support our dedicated members and advance addiction medicine through collaboration, advocacy, and education. Together, we are making meaningful progress:

• Staying Connected: The ACAAM Online Community provides a private space for members to share insights, discuss challenges, and support one another.
• Amplifying Our Voice: We are proud to continue collaborating with leading medical organizations through membership in AAMC and relationships with ASAM, AMERSA, and AAAP to advocate for the field of addiction medicine.
• Advancing the REACH 2.0 Initiative: With funding from the SAHMSA Minority Fellowship Program, our REACH 2.0 program is developing a well-equipped workforce to address substance use disorders nationwide.
• Expanding Fellowships: With 106 ACGME-accredited programs, we are committed to securing funding and grants to strengthen addiction medicine training.
• Celebrating New Graduates: Our 6th Annual Addiction Medicine Fellow Virtual Graduation & ACAAM Awards Recognition Event on June 4, 2025, will honor our newest fellows, reinforcing our commitment to their continued success.

• Fellow Lightning Round – Fellows can showcase research, case reports, and innovations. Eligible to apply? Submit a proposal by March 14 to participate in the May 28 virtual Fellow Lightning Round session.

Honoring Excellence in Addiction Medicine: Meet the 2025 ACAAM Award Recipients

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2025 ACAAM Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to the field of academic addiction medicine. Please join us in congratulating: