Dr. Weaver has been involved with the Board since 2016 when the first Addiction Medicine subspecialty certification exam was administered, and he has been an instrumental part of bringing on Addiction Medicine as a subspecialty.
The ABPM Board of Directors recently appointed him as the first Sub-Board Chair, a full member of the Board of Directors representing the growing number of subspecialists certified by ABPM.
We asked Dr. Weaver to share his background and his thoughts on board certification in our interview below.
How did you choose the specialty of Addiction Medicine?
During medical school, I worked in the laboratory of a research pharmacologist who was using rats to study opioid receptors, and she encouraged me to read more about how these and other drugs can be used and abused. Later in medical school, I worked with a student-led organization that educated other students about problems of drug use, and I enjoyed that aspect as well. During my residency in Internal Medicine, my first elective was with the hospital’s Substance Abuse Consult Service, and I enjoyed working with those patients in that context. I was encouraged by the faculty in Addiction Medicine to consider doing more in the field. I even wrote a research grant during residency that was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and did a fellowship in Addiction Medicine. What I find most rewarding about Addiction Medicine is that I can help patients to make an amazing—and life-saving—change in their lives when they enter recovery.
What would you like to accomplish during your term on the Board?
I have worked closely with the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine, so I am familiar with working with professional societies. I plan to continue working with different professional societies, which I believe is a very important aspect for a Director. I have worked extensively with the National Board of Medical Examiners, so I can help facilitate with this organization as a Director for ongoing development of initial certification examinations and longitudinal assessment programs for Maintenance of Certification (now known as the Continuing Certification Program, or CCP). I recently started working with the American Board of Medical Specialties, so my work with specialty societies, NBME, and ABMS, especially with different aspects of Continuing Certification, can be a valuable contribution to the Board as this evolves. I am a former Fellowship Director and I am developing a fellowship at my current institution, so this experience will help me represent this important educational mission of the Board. As a Director, I will be a voice for all subspecialties to the Board, and I would strive to represent the concerns and values of the different subspecialties, not just my own.
Why did you choose to become board-certified in Addiction Medicine, and what value do you think board certification provides for physicians?
It is estimated that 16 percent of the non-institutionalized U.S. population age 12 and older – more than 40 million Americans – meets medical criteria for addiction involving nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs. Addiction Medicine is defined as the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with the disease of addiction and substance-related health conditions, as well as of people who show unhealthy use of substances including nicotine, alcohol, prescription medications, and other licit and illicit drugs. Physicians specializing in this field also help family members whose health and functioning are affected by a loved one’s substance use or addiction. I chose to become board-certified in Addiction Medicine because it demonstrates that I have the expertise necessary to treat patients with evidence-based practices and will help me stay current with my colleagues in this emerging field. In the context of the opioid crisis, it is imperative that more medical schools, health systems and insurers help increase the number and size of Addiction Medicine fellowship programs and work to better integrate addiction care into mainstream health systems by employing certified Addiction Medicine physicians.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy reading novels and biographies. I enjoy hiking in the woods and sightseeing in new places. I enjoy trying new foods, although I don’t care for really spicy dishes. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with my two children.
Any other information you’d like to share with ABPM Diplomates?
The Board is working hard to make MOC (now known as the Continuing Certification Program, or CCP) simpler and easier for ABPM Diplomates, and in line with the recommendations of the ABMS Visioning Commission. More updates on this will be coming soon.