I am a family practice physician who has dedicated a large part of my training and professional practice to the care of patients with substance use disorder. Two years ago I opened the first community based, co-located primary care and behavioral health practice in Salt Lake City. We serve patients who have a primary behavioral health diagnosis, including substance use disorder. We believe that patients with these diagnoses deserve an integrated approach, including primary care, individual and group therapies, lifestyle education and support including nutrition, exercise, and sleep practices, and complementary therapies including acupuncture, physical therapy, and mindfulness. I believe strongly in the application of integrative and functional modalities to the treatment of behavioral health and substance use disorders. In order to expand my knowledge of these treatments I will complete my training and receive certification in Functional Medicine by the Institute of Functional Medicine. Our hope is to expand our practice and eventually collect data on the efficacy of an integrated approach to the treatment of these challenging diagnoses.

In July of this year, in order to continue to expand my knowledge of the treatment of substance use disorder I was accepted into the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at the University of Utah. I spend 50% of my clinical time at the University treating patients and engaging with addiction medicine colleagues. I will graduate in 2021, as I have been allowed to engage in the program as a part-time fellow in order to maintain my private practice. I am committed to the education of patients, families and my community. I have provided educational lectures and led discussions about medication assisted treatment to the Salt Lake Bar Association, various parent groups, 12-step organizations, and schools in the Salt Lake area. I believe that education and continued dialogue about the evidence based treatment of SUD is crucial to the healing of our communities.