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

Renew by June 30 to Keep Your ACAAM Benefits

ACAAM membership runs on an academic year (July 1 - June 30), which means your benefits expire on June 30 unless you renew now! Visit www.acaam.org/login and click 'My Profile' to access your membership information. 

Whether you're an individual member or part of a program, ACAAM helps you stay connected, informed, and supported in the field of addiction medicine.

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.

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

It's time to renew your ACAAM Membership

ACAAM Members: Your ACAAM membership runs on an academic year (July 1 - June 30) — make sure to renew your ACAAM membership before your benefits expire on June 30. Visit www.acaam.org/login and click 'My Profile' to access your membership information. 

Renew Your Individual Membership

We look forward to Trainees, Fellows, and Recent Fellowship Program Graduates to continue on the renewal pathway to grow a network of addiction medicine peers and further your knowledge in the field. Trainees and Fellows will renew as a Recent Fellowship Program Graduate, and Recent Graduates will renew as Regular Members. Regular Members will continue as Regular Members. 

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.

Explore ACAAM's 2024 Highlights: Growth in Membership and Engagement

Dive into the highlights of ACAAM's journey towards academic excellence and leadership in addiction medicine. Our 2024 Annual Report, titled "By the Numbers," showcases our key achievements across various fronts:

• Membership Updates
• Networking and Engagement 
• Education, Programs, & Products
• Workforce and Academic Development
• Financial Outlook

Join us in celebrating these milestones and envisioning a future of excellence and equity in academic addiction medicine! Learn more about ACAAM's mission.

ACAAM by the Numbers

Stay Ahead in Addiction Medicine – 2025 Didactic Sessions

The 2025 National Addiction Medicine Didactic Sessions are starting next week on January 15, from 2-4 pm ET, and running through mid-May. This series is your chance to stay at the forefront of addiction medicine with expert-led virtual discussions that cover essential topics and emerging trends.

Thank You to All Who Support Addiction Recovery

As National Addiction Treatment Week (October 21-25, 2024) comes to a close, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to every clinician, counselor, and professional committed to treating patients affected by addiction. This week, we joined ASAM to emphasize that addiction is a treatable disease, not a moral failing.

If you missed any of this week’s resources, explore highlights such as:

Celebrate Excellence in Academic Addiction Medicine

The ACAAM Call for Awards is open until Tuesday, October 8! Nominate an ACAAM member who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to academic addiction medicine in education, clinical care, research, or policy. The prestigious Kevin B. Kunz Award will be presented at the Virtual ACAAM Awards Recognition Event on June 4, 2025.

Award recipients will receive a personalized award and have the opportunity to give an acceptance speech, highlighting their achievements and impact on the field.

Eligibility & Selection

• Nominees must be current ACAAM members with an exceptional track record in academic addiction medicine.
• Submit a nomination form, a letter of recommendation, and the nominee’s CV by October 8.
• The ACAAM Awards Committee will review all nominations, with final approval by the Board of Directors.

Submit Your Nomination Today

It's time to renew your ACAAM Membership

ACAAM Members: Your ACAAM membership runs on an academic year (July 1 - June 30) — make sure to renew your ACAAM membership today before your benefits expire on June 30. Visit www.acaam.org/login and click 'My Profile' to access your membership information. 

Renew Your Individual Membership

We look forward to Trainees, Fellows, and Recent Fellowship Program Graduates to continue on the renewal pathway to grow a network of addiction medicine peers and further your knowledge in the field. Trainees and Fellows will renew as a Recent Fellowship Program Graduate, and Recent Graduates will renew as Regular Members. Regular Members will continue as Regular Members. 

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."

Explore ACAAM's 2023 Highlights: Growth in Membership and Engagement

Dive into the highlights of ACAAM's journey towards academic excellence and leadership in addiction medicine. Our 2023 Annual Report, titled "By the Numbers," showcases our key achievements across various fronts:

• Membership Updates
• Networking and Engagement 
• Education, Programs, & Products
• Workforce and Academic Development
• Financial Outlook

Join us in celebrating these milestones and envisioning a future of excellence and equity in academic addiction medicine! Learn more about ACAAM's mission.

ACAAM by the Numbers

Join us on January 17 for Part 2 of the ACAAM Early Career Education Series About Disseminating Your Research

Part 2 of the ACAAM Early Career Education Series is coming up on Wednesday, January 17, from 3-4 pm ET. Join us for a presentation on "Dissemination of Your Work and Research Through Manuscripts and Conference Submissions." This is the second part of a three-part series for fellows, recent program graduates, and junior faculty.

The final session will be held on February 15 at 3 pm ET. 

Register for Part 2 of the ACAAM Virtual Learning Series on January 11

Join us for the second part of our ACAAM Virtual Learning Series, "Leveraging ACGME Requirements to Create a Community-Based Addiction Medicine Rotation to Educate and Mentor Internists in Harm Reduction," on Thursday, January 11, from 3-4 pm ET. This FREE session is the second part of a three-part series geared toward faculty in established and emerging fellowship programs, although all are welcome.

The final session will be held on April 18 at 3 pm ET. 

ACAAM honors veterans and addiction medicine specialists who served their country this Veterans Day

On Veterans Day, we honor our veterans and share our profound gratitude for their sacrifices. We also thank the addiction medicine specialists who tirelessly treat veterans with substance use disorders and lead them into recovery. This year, we'd like to highlight two addiction medicine specialists who not only treat veterans, but were veterans themselves. 

November 11, 2022, 6 - 7 PM EDT

We can't wait to see our members who are attending the 2022 AMERSA Annual Conference. Stop by from 6-7 pm EDT at the Hyatt Regency Boston, Quincy Room. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. 

No registration is necessary. We look forward to seeing our members there!

ACAAM recently partnered with AOD Health to recruit the publication’s first-ever Richard Saitz Editorial Intern. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Corey McBrayer, DO, from OhioHealth! Dr. McBrayer will join AOD Health Associate Editors to co-author summaries of current addiction medicine literature. This internship also includes participation in podcasts, interviews with authors, and more. Congratulations again to Dr. McBrayer, and thank you to all who applied for this opportunity!

Dear Colleagues,

The American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM) is built from our members’ determination and passion for advancing academic addiction medicine. With our first year of membership coming to a close, we are so grateful for your energy, ingenuity, and focus to create a healthier future for those across this nation who need high-quality substance use care.