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American Society of Addiciton Medicine

 

Timothy J. Wiegand, MD, FACMT, FAACT, DFASAM

 

Candidate for President-Elect

Timothy J. Wiegand, MD, FACMT, FAACT, DFASAMTimothy J. Wiegand, MD, FACMT, FAACT, DFASAM serves as Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Public Health Sciences at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and the University of Rochester Medical Center.

He is currently the Director of Addiction Medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine at URMC transitioning from directing the integrated Addiction/Toxicology Consult Service which he founded in 2011. This program has been a model and Dr. Wiegand has mentored other professionals on Addiction/Toxicology program development, patient care and billing and reimbursement. These professionals and Addiction/Toxicology specialists now run similar programs around the country.

Dr. Wiegand started treating addiction during his Internal Medicine Residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2001-2004) where he was mentored in withdrawal management and later in methadone treatment through a formal program for Internal Medicine trainees. After residency Dr. Wiegand completed a dual Medical Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship at the University of California San Francisco and he has since worked to bridge the fields of addiction medicine and medical toxicology seeing tremendous opportunities professionally, in expanding the addiction workforce, and for the public health in the overlap and collaboration between the two medical specialties. In addition to emergency department, hospital, and clinic work treating drug exposures, intoxication, withdrawal, and assisting with pain and perioperative management for patients treated with buprenorphine or methadone, Dr. Wiegand is involved with medical education and research in toxicology and addiction.

In addition to his position at URMC Dr. Wiegand serves as the Medical Director for Huther Doyle an outpatient addiction treatment program which is certified under New York’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Dr. Wiegand is the initial Program Director for the URMC Medical Toxicology Fellowship which became ACGME certified in 2023. He is a past Program Director for the URMC Emergency Medicine & Toxicology-based Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program, and his fellows have all become Boarded in Addiction Medicine and gone on to practice in this area making important contributions to patient care and in their professional work. He is also a core faculty member for the Emergency Medicine residency at Strong Memorial Hospital and he has run a Toxicology and Addiction rotation which he developed in 2010. He lectures locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on topics in addiction medicine and medical toxicology.

Dr. Wiegand has served two terms for the ASAM Board’s Executive Council, and he has served on the ASAM Board overall for nearly six years. He currently serves ASAM as Treasurer and he is also a past ASAM Vice President. Prior to serving as Vice President, Dr. Wiegand was an At-Large Board Director for ASAM. He has also served on the nominations committee and participated in numerous other groups including expert panels, in the development of educational content, and in the creation of Position Statements and Guidelines (e.g., Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine and the Stimulant Use Disorder Guidance documents). He is also a Co-Chair of a new Forensic Addiction Medicine Special Interest Group which is a new opportunity for ASAM members to get involved with.

Dr. Wiegand has also served two terms as a board member of the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) and he has been Treasurer and Finance Chair for the Medical Toxicology Foundation. Dr. Wiegand is a Past President of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine, and he has served on the NYSAM Board for over 10 years. Dr. Wiegand was the President of NYSAM during the COVID19 pandemic and he helped guide the NYSAM chapter into its first virtual annual conference and public policy day. NYSAM has since expanded virtual education into other activities including a Cannabis Webinar series and which he developed and curated content for.

Dr. Wiegand regularly presents at the ASAM Annual Conference, through lectures and workshops, as well as presenting posters and mentoring young investigators. In addition to the annual conference Dr. Wiegand has lectured at the Board Review Course and for live webinars and the eLearning platform on educational content related to pain and OUD, drug testing, and other topics. He also leads and moderates the monthly Addiction Toxicology Case Conference featuring live interactive discussion with expert panelists on cases that fall into the intersection of Addiction Medicine and Medical Toxicology.

Dr. Wiegand actively mentors ASAM members. His fellows and mentees have gone on to take leadership positions within NYSAM and ASAM and in their community or institutions. In recognition of his service and leadership at the 2022 ASAM Annual Conference Dr. Wiegand was awarded the ASAM Annual Award.

During his free time Tim enjoys exercise which he does with his wife, Bonnie, and the two of them follow an online fitness program using weights and body (core, HIT, calisthenics and stretch) as he is trying, and being both successful and unsuccessful, at softening the impact of injuries from sports and the general aging process. He also does a daily walk with Bonnie who is up with their Black Lab, Rhino, getting a couple of miles in, usually at 6:00 AM, and the two take Latin Dance instruction on Sundays. Tim and Bonnie have 3 kids, Eli who is 18, Sera almost 16 and Charlie 8 these three keep them busy and help remind them on the importance of balance and focus on life.

Nomination Video

Dr. Timothy J. Wiegand

 

Candidate Questionnaire Responses

1. What have been your greatest contributions to ASAM or to the field of addiction medicine over the last 10 years?
I have been active within ASAM in a variety of volunteer positions. Most recently I have served on the Executive Counsel as the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Council, after serving a 2-year term as Vice President. Prior to this I was an At-Large Director. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve ASAM and our membership in this capacity. I have worked closely with the Executive Council Members (President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary), other ASAM Board Members and Chapter Leadership as well as ASAM’s staff leadership and administrative support on a variety of critical activities from educational planning and approval, advocacy efforts, legislative support, social justice and diversity initiatives, in addition to planning ASAM activities, in particular during the initial part of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the pandemic evolved and quick decisions needed to be made.

This experience has led to an appreciation for members’ commitment to ASAM, the outstanding staff and administrative support ASAM has been able to rely on. It has also reminded me of the importance of ASAMs obligations to the patients and public health we serve as a professional organization outside our work as individual Addiction Medicine specialists.

I have served on the nominations committee and participated in numerous other groups including expert panels, in the development of educational content and in the creation of Position Statements and Guidelines. Some of the things I have formally worked on are the Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine Guidance document, as an author and expert panelist, and I was lead author for the Pocket Guide to Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine. I was also a member of the Expert Panel convened to develop Guidance documents on the treatment of Stimulant Use Disorder (StUD), and as a member of the Board I have reviewed and provided feedback and approval for statements ASAM has published over the past several years.

I have presented at the Annual Conference for nearly ten years, giving a variety of plenary sessions, workshops and focus sessions as well as presenting posters and mentoring young investigators. I am part of a Medical Toxicology and Addiction Medicine group that brings together the intersection of Addiction Medicine and Medical Toxicology (Addiction Toxicology) with several presentations each year. These sessions are often among the highest ranked by attendees at the annual conference. Naloxone, Fentanyl, Designer Drugs, Emergency Department and hospital care of patients with addiction and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), and sessions on the treatment of Severe Agitated Delirium, or “Excited Delirium”, have been some of the topic areas I’ve either led presentations or been part of the group presenting at the annual conference.

In addition to presentations for the Annual Conference and State Chapters (I’ve coordinated and presented at the NYSAM Toxicology Panel since its inception nearly ten years ago). I have organized the NYSAM Poster competition which each year supports several awardees to attend and present at NYSAM conference. I have presented at the Board Review Course on Toxicology and Pharmacology and Drug Testing, and on educational content related to the Opioid Use Disorder Guidelines 2020 update on Pain and OUD on ED and hospital management of Stimulant Use Disorder. I also lead and moderate the monthly Addiction Toxicology Case Conference, held the first Friday of each month featuring live interactive discussion with expert panelists and the audience on cases that fall into the intersection of Addiction Medicine and Medical Toxicology.

During COVID19 this focused on nuances of care required due to pandemic disruption of healthcare delivery and regulatory changes, and I led sessions on the Treatment of Substance Use Disorder during COVID19. These sessions have been recorded and are available to members of both ASAM and the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT).

In addition to national leadership and service I have been very active at the state and chapter level where I currently serve as the Immediate Past President and Chair the Nominations Committee of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine (NYSAM). I served as President during the COVID19 pandemic and guided our chapter into its first virtual annual conference and public policy day. NYSAM has since expanded virtual education into other activities including a Cannabis Webinar series, which I organized and developed content for. I also led the transition to new administrative support through our state Medical Society. NYSAM has also incorporated new educational content delivery and IT expertise which has expanded our reach and ability to work with our membership through website development and social media.

As a President of NYSAM I oversaw a Bylaws review and update which expanded our Board, formally adding a trainee board position (student, resident or fellow) among other updates. I have been a fellowship director and had graduate fellows go on to take leadership positions both within NYSAM and ASAM. I mentored Dr. Jade Malcho as she was awarded the Young Investigator Award for best poster 2020 on buprenorphine micro induction. Dr. Malcho was the early career physician for the NYSAM Board 2020-2022. Another fellowship graduate is currently serving on the NYSAM Board as an at-large director.

Finally, I am active with mentoring several ASAM members both formally and informally, related to medication use and pharmacology, practice and professional development, billing and reimbursement and other areas. At the 2022 ASAM Annual Conference I was awarded the ASAM Annual Award which recognizes and honors an individual for outstanding contributions to the growth and vitality of ASAM, for thoughtful leadership in the field, and for deep understanding of the art and science of addiction medicine, as well as for expanding the frontiers of the field of addiction medicine and broadening our understanding of the addictive process through research and innovation.

2. How would your election to the ASAM Board of Directors benefit ASAM and the field of addiction medicine?
It is an honor to be considered for the position of President-Elect for the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). This position is for a six-year commitment to ASAM and its members as the President-Elect transitions to the President after two years, and afterwards becomes the Immediate Past-President who also Chairs the Nominations Committee, among other ASAM responsibilities.

My past experiences as Treasurer and Vice President of ASAM have given me insight into the Executive Council (EC) and Board dynamics as well as the responsibilities of an EC and Board member for our professional organization. As Treasurer I worked with other Finance Council Members and ASAM administrative support along with outside experts in accounting and was pleased to contribute as ASAM continues to show financial stability and growth. During my position as Treasurer, we grew financially from a deficit budget (spending money to help develop future programs for our organization and its members) into a surplus budget this past year. Keeping ASAM financially strong is critical to our mission as a membership run organization.

If elected President-Elect I will continue to work with the experienced and dedicated staff and other volunteer members of the Finance Council to best serve ASAM and our membership. As Vice President I supported the President in his activities being ready to stand in for the President for any emergency or absences and having a variety of tasks during the year beyond EC and Board participation. I was active in educational activities, the annual conference, in meetings with professional organization leadership (ACAAM and ACMT)).

As a member of the ASAM Board I have been very vocal that ASAM needs to continue to focus not only on supporting efforts on having Addiction Medicine specialists available throughout healthcare in a variety of settings, but ASAM needs to increase its efforts at supporting funding for Addiction Medicine Physician specialists and to also support training in this area. ASAM has been active in this area with advocacy efforts in supporting legislation in these areas and in some mentorship opportunities on program and practice development, but it could do more and expand on what we’ve already done or contributed to.

ASAM also put out a position statement on the Recognition and Role of the Addiction Specialist Physician in Health Care in the United States, but additional focus is needed to help physicians on practice planning, development of consult services in the ED and hospital setting, and for billing and reimbursement models for physicians for the work they do in Addiction Medicine every day.

There are competing interests supporting other healthcare team members for professional activities and it is critical that hospitals, healthcare payors and the public know the value of the physician in leading addiction medicine care for patients and the public health. This is critical not only as our specialty grows it is critical for public health and for the health care system at all levels. Addition Medicine specialists are necessary for improving outcomes for patients in varied settings, and Addiction Medicine as a professional specialty is an opportunity for professional growth for physicians both as a primary specialty or to complement a primary medical specialty.

I was awarded the 2022 ASAM Annual Award based on my work bridging Medical Toxicology and Addiction Medicine. Over 30% of Board-Certified Medical Toxicologists are now also dual boarded in Addiction Medicine. A large portion of my professional work is focused on creating visibility, education, mentoring and other work in the Addiction/Toxicology interface and I look forward to continuing this as well as expanding into other areas within healthcare and with other medical specialties.

ASAM has incredible potential and opportunity related to advocacy and legislative efforts in expanding access to care for treatment of substance use disorders and addiction as well as for social justice and diversity within medicine and society. I have been impressed with and very pleased to have helped ASAM first on the Board and Executive Committee determine response and priorities in these areas. I’ve also been very pleased with ASAMs work and development of position statements and general response over the past several years as events dictated our organization respond (response to the death of George Floyd, healthcare inequities exacerbated by COVID19, the disparities increasingly clear as the opioid overdoses continue to climb are some examples).

I look forward to continuing to serve ASAM in this area and have appreciated the commitment from other board members and staff. On the Nomination Committee I was involved with the development of a new annual award for “Promotion of Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Justice in Addiction Medicine. Nominations for the inaugural award for 2023 had recently closed. I offer diversity of specialty background to the ASAM EC having Medical Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology in addition to Internal Medicine training as my primary specialty.

As changing drug markets and also treatment options has dictated a nuanced understanding of pharmacology to most safely and effectively treat patients with SUDs and addiction, in particular as medications are initiated in the area of fentanyl, as Addiction Medicine specialists become increasingly relevant in the ED and hospital setting helping with pain and perioperative management and in drug testing guidance and interpretation having the toxicology knowledge enhances my expertise and value as an Addiction Medicine specialist and also Board member.

Most important, however, for the President-Elect position, is the experience and mentorship I’ve been given during the time I’ve had serving ASAM, NYSAM, and other organizations. The experience, track record and willingness I have demonstrated and willingness to work with and listen to the expertise that has helped guide ASAM is critical at all levels of ASAM leadership. The ASAM President-Elect is tasked with working with other professional organizations, an area I’ve had a lot of experience with both through my work with the Medical Toxicology specialty organization (ACMT), and other professional organizations such as the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM).

ASAM has a lot of different areas of collaboration and contact with specialty groups particularly AAAP (American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry) and ACAAM (American College of Academic Addiction Medicine) but there are many others involved with a variety of efforts from advocacy efforts, work groups/writing efforts and in patient care. I have a diverse background with a variety of different experiences in training, education, and patient care. I have worked at different levels of care including outpatient clinics, the Emergency Department and inpatient hospital units running a consult service. I also have experience supporting physicians in rural settings through mentorship and outreach and in specific grant efforts to expand addiction care to rural areas. This experience is important as ASAM has a diverse membership with a variety of different practice types and settings and it is important for leadership to understand nuances of difference as well as opportunity in physician work in these areas.

Most important in my application for the position of President-Elect is that I believe in the importance and value of ASAM in its work for our members and for our patients. I have been fortunate to serve on the Board under several individuals who have done an extraordinary job with their work on ASAM and from each I’ve learned something different in terms of leadership style, effectiveness, and diplomacy. If elected President-Elect I look forward to serving with Dr. Stephen Taylor, before taking the role of President two years later. I am confident I will be effective working with ASAM staff, leadership and others on the Board and Executive Council the position in my roles in the different positions.

ASAM has an outstanding staff and leadership and the membership is passionate and enthusiastic about the specialty of addiction medicine and in taking care of patients with the disease of addiction. It would be an honor and privilege to continue to serve ASAM and its members as President-Elect and subsequently President and I am very pleased to submit my application for this position.


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