Honoring Dr. Ayana Jordan: PECASE Award Winner and Leader in Science & Medicine

We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Ayana Jordan, MD PhD, Barbara Wilson Associate Professor of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine & REACH 2.0 Medical Director, on receiving the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) – the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding early-career scientists and engineers. Established by President Clinton in 1996, this award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional potential for leadership in their fields.

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

• 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

Meet Our New ACAAM Board Members!

We are excited to introduce the newest members of the ACAAM 2025-2026 Board of Directors: Julie M. Byler, DO, Christopher C. Holden, MD, and Camille Robinson, MD MPH. These accomplished leaders bring invaluable experience and a shared commitment to advancing addiction medicine.

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.

Join the Movement to Raise Awareness, Eliminate Stigma, and Promote Evidence-Based Treatments

January marks the inaugural Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month—a nationwide initiative led by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at SAMHSA. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments and breaking down the barriers to recovery.

Expand Addiction Medicine Training with $23M in HRSA Grants

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced a new funding opportunity to support Addiction Medicine Fellowship (AMF) and Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship (APF) programs. With approximately $23 million available for 28 awardees over a five year period, this initiative aims to increase the number of specialists working in underserved, community-based settings integrating primary care, mental health, and substance use disorder services.

Eligible applicants: 

Explore the Full List of ACAAM's Volunteer Community & Welcome New Leaders

As we reflect on a a year filled with gratitude, we want to thank our 2024 ACAAM Member Volunteers for their steadfast commitment to advancing the field of addiction medicine.

We are also excited to welcome new voices to our Community— dedicated Committee and Community Volunteers, as well as our Members of the Board of Directors—who bring fresh ideas and perspectives to shape the future of our field.

Specialized Training for Future Leaders in Addiction Medicine

ACAAM Fellows, enhance your training in adolescent substance use care with a one-week Pediatric Addiction Medicine Rotation at Boston Children’s Hospital. This immersive program includes 16 hours of clinical telehealth with a multidisciplinary team, virtual rounds, research meetings, and access to valuable educational resources.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain specialized skills in a unique, supportive environment. Spots are limited—learn more and apply today!

Apply Today!

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

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).

Elevate Your Leadership Skills: ACAAM Faculty Development Series

We are thrilled to launch the first virtual session of our new ACAAM Faculty Development Series, "Decoding the ACGME Alphabet Soup of Running a Fellowship," on August 7 at 3 pm ET. Led by Claudia Moore, MD, and Kenneth Zoucha, MD, from the University of Nebraska, this session will delve into best practices and guidelines for addiction medicine fellowships. It's designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in program leadership and ensure compliance.

This exclusive education offering, free for ACAAM members, includes:

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.

ACAAM Member - Fellow Lightning Round Virtual Event on May 15

Make plans to join ACAAM on Wednesday, May 15 from 2-4 pm EDT. The 2024 Fellow Lightning Round Presentations will provide new insights and knowledge into various academic addiction medicine topics. Tune in next week as 19 addiction medicine fellows take the virtual stage for a 5-minute/5-slide presentation on topics of their choice. Explore the 2024 Presentation Summaries today for a sneak peek of what's to come.

We look forward to seeing you virtually next week!

Explore the Presentation Summaries

All ACAAM members have received an email with the Zoom link, make sure to access the event using that link on May 15. It will also be included in the upcoming ACAAM Weekly Digest.

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. 

Program Directors & Administrators: Empower Your Graduating Fellows

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. With this membership, your fellows gain access to invaluable resources such as board prep materials, networking opportunities, and career guidance. Don't miss out on this chance to invest in their future success!

Give the gift of ACAAM today by purchasing a membership for your graduating fellow(s). 

Gift ACAAM Membership

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!

• 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."

Make Your Submissions by May 1 for AMERSA's 2024 Annual Conference

AMERSA is now accepting submissions for abstracts, workshops, and conference awards until Wednesday, May 1. Whether you have research to share, an innovative workshop idea, or are seeking a conference award to join AMERSA in Chicago, now is the time to submit! 

Mark your calendars for AMERSA's 48th Annual Conference, taking place November 14–16 in Chicago, IL. This year's event will feature oral abstract sessions, live poster sessions, and interactive skills-based workshops. 

ACAAM Hosts Virtual Event for Anyone Interested in Addiction Medicine Fellowship Opportunities

Calling all medical students, residents, physicians, or anyone interested in learning more about addition medicine fellowship opportunities and the field as a potential career path! Join us for ACAAM's virtual Specialty Showcase on May 7 at 3 pm ET.

Exclusive Offer:

Register now and gain 2 months of complimentary access to the following ACAAM didactic sessions:

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

• 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