Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PhD, DFASAM has focused her career on advancing practice, research, education, and advocacy in addiction medicine. She is a tenured Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Public Health Sciences, and Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, and Vice Chair of Research at the Penn State Department of Family and Community Medicine.

She lives in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with her husband David, their two children, one dog, and numerous plants. She loves hiking, including “walking meetings”, especially in the mountains. Dr. Zgierska is board-certified in family medicine and addiction medicine (American Board of Preventive Medicine) and provides both primary and addiction care.

She earned MD and PhD degrees in Warsaw, Poland before moving to Madison, WI, where she completed residency and NIH-funded research training. She served as a University of Wisconsin faculty member (2009-2019) prior to moving to Penn State, where she continues to teach students, residents, fellows, and peers. Her educational efforts and large federally funded research portfolio focus on the prevention and treatment of addiction, especially when it involves opioids, and improving outcomes in chronic pain.

She has served on numerous local, state and national task forces, committees and workgroups, participating in the development of professional guidelines and policies, and advocating for aligning legislative efforts with evidence-based approach to addiction care, and reduction of addiction-related harm, stigma and health disparities.

Dr. Zgierska is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and has been involved in ASAM since 2006. She served on the Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine (WISAM) Board of Directors for 8 years, including 2 years as President. She also served as Vice-Chair for the ASAM’s Chapters’ Council for over 4 years and is an active member of the ASAM Public Policy Committee and the ASAM Board of Directors, including serving as Secretary since 2021.

She is committed to, and passionate about, advancing the field of addiction medicine, and the ASAM’s mission and vision.

Disclosure of Interests and Affiliations