Special Episode from the 55th Annual ASAM Conference: Dr. Cara Poland

Dr. Cara Poland joins host Zach from ASAM’s 55th Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. She shares her journey into the field of addiction medicine and her personal reasons for feeling so passionate about the field. Dr. Poland discusses her thoughts about why alcohol use disorder (AUD) is generally seen as less serious than other substance use disorders (SUD), such as opioid use disorder, and the importance of FDA-approved medications for addiction, kindness, and compassion in treatment. She talks about myriad sources of stigma associated with addiction, her focus on education and training of the next generation of addiction specialists, and reducing stigma within the medical community. Dr. Poland also shares some personal experiences from ASAM’s Annual Conference, past and present, and advice for clinicians new to the addiction medicine field. Dr. Cara Poland is a recognized expert in addiction medicine. She is a faculty member at Michigan State University. She earned her medical degree from Wayne State University and was trained in internal medicine at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in addiction medicine at Boston Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her master's degree in education from Boston University. She has an interest in educating health care providers and providers-in-training to improve care for patients with SUD, particularly during pregnancy and early parenting.   Links: Cara Poland, MD - Addiction Medicine Physician ASAM’s Annual Conference Information MI Cares   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM’s Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.