It has long been recognized that there is an insufficient supply of physicians trained in the field of addictive disease to meet the needs of the patient population. A variety of certification programs have been formed, but they often go unfilled. Three years ago, the Annenberg Foundation funded our program to discover methods that could be used to develop greater understanding of, and greater interest in, addictive disease among physicians.

Our approach is an experiential one in which medical students are exposed to the “epidemic” through participation in a treatment facility’s patient milieu. Surveys of students are used as part of the research plan. The first summer program was set as a pilot project for 2006; the following year was our first fully operational year. As a participant in 2008, you’ll be part of the patient milieu, eating with patients, participating in groups with patients, and so forth. You won’t be emulating a physician, but rather a patient so as to learn through the eyes of a patient. That being said, you will have a mentor who will be available to answer any questions that might arise or work through any issues that take place.